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Volume 1: Roman Emperors: Augustus with Dr. Dimo Kosmopoulos

Volume 1: Roman Emperors: Augustus with Dr. Dimo Kosmopoulos


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

According to Suetonius, Augustus "found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble". This conversation is part one of our Roman Emperor series and will take us to explore life in Rome after 27 BC when a new era of Roman history began: Octavianus became Augustus. We'll discuss how he begins by building an Empire ruling from his house on the Palatine hill (the same hill where, according to the myth, Rome was founded by the first king of the city, Romulus). We'll go on to discuss the long period of cruel battles under Augustus. We'll talk about the defeat of Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra which brought to an end the civil wars along with a new period of peace, the Pax Augusta which enlightened the Roman world. However, it was not easy to transform a Republican system into an Empire, and, in a matter of fact, Augustus never accomplished that goal - officially.
We'll discuss how Augustus consolidated his power working behind the scenes, carefully using all the available instruments: literature, politics, and of course architecture, the language of power. We'll talk about how he displayed power through architecture, particularly in Rome: temples, arches, altars, an obelisk used as a sundial, his own majestic tomb (Mausoleum) which he built while he was still alive.
Led by archaeologist Dimosthenis Kosmopoulos, this interactive seminar will tell the story of Rome through Augustus. It is part of a series on Roman Emperors created by Dimo. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with a better understanding of Rome as a result.
This conversation is the first in a five-part series. Each seminar can be joined independently and in any order. 

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 14 reviews
93%
(13)
7%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
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D
D.K. (Boydton, US)
Ms

Dr. Dimo was so informative and engaging. I'm looking forward to more Context Conversations with Dimo!

C
C.F. (Santa Monica, US)
A new perspective on Augustas!

I found this opening seminar of the series to be quite interesting. It gave me a new perspective on Augustus, particularly his influence on architecture and the buildings in Rome.

V
V. (San Diego, US)
Fascinating and illuminating seminar

This seminar really helped me understand who Augustus was and why he mattered. Dr. Kosmopoulos always has a very well-organized lecture with terrific slides, and he is a very engaging speaker. This time was no exception.

L
L.C. (Eugene, US)

Guest did not leave comment

J
James Moher (San Leandro, US)
Dr. Kosmopoulos Is OUTSTANDING

Dr. Kosmopoulos has complete command of the subject matter and presents it in an engaging and enthusiastic manner. He’s the ideal instructor. I’m signing up for Volume 2!

Customer Reviews

Based on 14 reviews
93%
(13)
7%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
D
D.K. (Boydton, US)
Ms

Dr. Dimo was so informative and engaging. I'm looking forward to more Context Conversations with Dimo!

C
C.F. (Santa Monica, US)
A new perspective on Augustas!

I found this opening seminar of the series to be quite interesting. It gave me a new perspective on Augustus, particularly his influence on architecture and the buildings in Rome.

V
V. (San Diego, US)
Fascinating and illuminating seminar

This seminar really helped me understand who Augustus was and why he mattered. Dr. Kosmopoulos always has a very well-organized lecture with terrific slides, and he is a very engaging speaker. This time was no exception.

L
L.C. (Eugene, US)

Guest did not leave comment

J
James Moher (San Leandro, US)
Dr. Kosmopoulos Is OUTSTANDING

Dr. Kosmopoulos has complete command of the subject matter and presents it in an engaging and enthusiastic manner. He’s the ideal instructor. I’m signing up for Volume 2!