Myth, Art and Propaganda in Ancient Rome

The Romans adopted many of the Greek gods and myths. Making use of mythology for propaganda in Roman literature and art was especially prominent in Augustus' reign. Other Emperors often preferred the visual over the written propaganda. With the help of supernatural events and mythical heroic adventures they glorified themselves, presented genealogies in association with certain deities, exhibited their virtues, and justified their reign as well as their divine nature. With the help of written evidence and visual representations we'll try to figure out the relation of Augustus to Aphrodite, Aeneas and Apollo, and his approach towards Dionysus, Heracles and Omphale (in association with Marc Anthony); the reason for choosing Odysseus to present Tiberius' virtues; what Apollo and Dionysus meant for Hadrian and why the Emperors presented themselves as Jupiter, Dionysos or Heracles, and their wives as Aphrodite, Tyche or Demeter.