"Art and architecture are mirrors of a society. They reflect the state of its values, especially in times of crisis or transition." Upon this premise Paul Zanker builds an interpretation of Augustan art as a visual language that both expressed and furthered the transformation of Roman society during the rule of Augustus Caesar. The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus illustrates how the establishment of monarchy under Augustus Caesar led to the creation of a new system of visual imagery that reflects the consciousness of this transitional age.
"...Paul Zanker's new book is outstanding. It can be welcomed without exaggeration as the most significant contribution to the understanding of Augustan Rome since The Roman Revolution."
—Journal of Roman Studies
1 Conflict and Contradiction in the Imagery of the Dying Republic 5
2 Rival Images: Octavian, Antony, and the Struggle for Sole Power 33
3 The Great Turning Point: Intimations of a New Imperial Style 79
4 The Augustan Program of Cultural Renewal 101
5 The Mythical Foundations of the New Rome 167
6 Form and Meaning of the New Mythology 239
7 The New Imagery in the Private Sphere 265
8 The Roman Empire of Augustus: Imperial Myth and Cult in East and West 297
Notes and References for Further Reading 341
Illustration Sources 371
Index of Sites and Museums 381