Politics and the Stars Elements of Augustan Ideology in Germanicus' "Aratea"
Politics and the Stars Elements of Augustan Ideology in Germanicus' "Aratea"

Summary/Abstract: Germanicus’ “Aratea”, an astronomical poem from 1st century CE is one of the earliest Latin translations of Aratus of Soli’s “Phaenomena”, a work well-known in antiquity. Germanicus brought a new value to the topic, not only translating a Greek poem, but in fact transferring it onto Roman ground by following great literary traditions. Being a favourite of the princeps, the young poet thoroughly changed the Greek model’s main theme from worshipping Zeus’ power to praising a head of state and his arrangements. “Aratea” is filled with traces of Augustus’ ideology: encouraging bringing back the “Roman virtues” (pietas, clementia, iustitia etc.), the princeps’ idea of pax and shaping a new approach to religion. The purpose of the article is to find these traces and examine their role in the poem.

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