Augustan Culture ─ An Interpretive Introduction

Grand political accomplishment and artistic productivity were the
hallmarks of Augustus Caesar's reign (31 B.C. to A.D. 14), which has
served as a powerful model of achievement for societies throughout
Western history. Although much research has been done on individual
facets of Augustan culture, Karl Galinsky's book is the first in
decades to present a unified overview, one that brings together
political and social history, art, literature, architecture, and
religion. Weaving analysis and narrative throughout a richly
illustrated text, Galinsky provides not only an enjoyable account of
the major ideas of the age, but also an interpretation of the creative
tensions and contradictions that made for its vitality and
influence.

Galinsky draws on source material ranging from coins
and inscriptions to the major works of poetry and art, and challenges
the schematic concepts and dichotomies that have commonly been applied
to Augustan culture. He demonstrates that this culture was neither
monolithic nor the mere result of one man's will. Instead it was a
nuanced process of evolution and experimentation. Augustan culture had
many contributors, as Galinsky demonstrates, and their dynamic
interactions resulted in a high point of creativity and complexity
that explains the transcendence of the Augustan age. Far from being
static, its sophisticated literary and artistic monuments call for the
active response and involvement of the reader and viewer even
today.