Augustus’ speech to the senate of the gods is full of classical rhetorical devices common in senatorial address. The first opens his speech, when he calls the gods to be his witnesses: "ego" inquit "p.c. vos testes habeo (Seneca 10.2)…. An evocation of the gods is commonly employed by Roman orators to give weight to their speeches; they call upon the gods to verify their words. Augustus’ call here is quite literal. He wants to the gods to reaffirm the character he puts forth in this speech. This classical style continues throughout his speech, especially when he finally reaches his official opinion on the deification. He puts forth his opinion using the standard formula of the senate: ego pro sententia mea hoc censeo (Seneca 11.17-8)
…show more content…
His role in the court has been mentioned before, once by Claudius himself, but it is once again Augustus who fully explains the reality of his actions: quare quemquam ex his, quos quasque occidisti, antequam de causa cognosceres, antequam audires, damnasti? (Seneca 10.19-21)? This revelation of Claudius’ ignorance fits nicely into Augustus’ argument against his deification. Augustus follows up the previous quote with hoc ubi fieri solet? in caelo non fit (Seneca 10.21)? As is seen in this scene, the gods follow Roman procedure; both sides of an argument get their day in court. Claudius’ disregard for this protocol is just another strike against him. Augustus drives this point home with a direct comparison betweent the dead human emperor and the divine ruler Jupiter: "ecce Iuppiter, qui tot annos regnat, uni Volcano crus fregit, quem ῥίψε ποδὸς τεταγὼν ἀπὸ βηλοῦ θεσπεσίοιο et iratus fuit uxori et suspendit illam: numquid occidit (Seneca 11.1-4) Obviously Augustus is obsficating the truth; Jupiter is far from a level-headed ruler, and he has committed his fair share of crimes. That being said, this comparison feeds back into Augustus’ qualities as an orator. He knows he is omitting some truths, but it is the best interpretation to support his argument. Jupiter is also arguably the most important person to please, as the ruler of the gods and the head of the
His role in the court has been mentioned before, once by Claudius himself, but it is once again Augustus who fully explains the reality of his actions: quare quemquam ex his, quos quasque occidisti, antequam de causa cognosceres, antequam audires, damnasti? (Seneca 10.19-21)? This revelation of Claudius’ ignorance fits nicely into Augustus’ argument against his deification. Augustus follows up the previous quote with hoc ubi fieri solet? in caelo non fit (Seneca 10.21)? As is seen in this scene, the gods follow Roman procedure; both sides of an argument get their day in court. Claudius’ disregard for this protocol is just another strike against him. Augustus drives this point home with a direct comparison betweent the dead human emperor and the divine ruler Jupiter: "ecce Iuppiter, qui tot annos regnat, uni Volcano crus fregit, quem ῥίψε ποδὸς τεταγὼν ἀπὸ βηλοῦ θεσπεσίοιο et iratus fuit uxori et suspendit illam: numquid occidit (Seneca 11.1-4) Obviously Augustus is obsficating the truth; Jupiter is far from a level-headed ruler, and he has committed his fair share of crimes. That being said, this comparison feeds back into Augustus’ qualities as an orator. He knows he is omitting some truths, but it is the best interpretation to support his argument. Jupiter is also arguably the most important person to please, as the ruler of the gods and the head of the