I was reading about Belisarius' triumph and the route that it took ending in prayer in the hypodrome of Constantinople. So I wondered, is there any information on the triumph held by Honorius, which,to my understanding, was the last triumph held in the city of Rome. Did it take the original route that ended at the temple of Jupiter, or were the most blatantly pagan traits replaced by Christian ones?
Pretty simple question I have here, I'm doing some writing right now, trying to figure how I feel about some historical fiction about Thumelicus, Arminius' son. The kid just straight up disapears from history, makes him excellent for a historical fiction protagonist.
Anyways, could someone point me too some good sources on the the specifics of Roman triumphs, maybe even some actual descriptions of Germanicus' triumph after his punitive campaign? I'd like to use it as an opening and would like to write accurately about the the processes, and more importantly, the treatment of those within the procession, specifically the prisoners, slash "guests of honnor" that would be represented by Thusnelda and Thumelicus, probably a few other nobles.
Is it like a public shaming event for those prisoners? You know rotten produce, insults, maybe some thrown rocks? Or are they afforded respect due to their station in society, etc. The most I get out of descriptions of most triumphs is a procession through Rome.
Any help is appreciated.
Hellow people of Reddit,
I'm researching the how important the Roman Triumph was in the construction of an emperors image. I have some passages, mainly from Suetonius, Tacitus and of course Josephus but I was wondering if there anybody was aware of anything, perhaps a little more, unique?
And if anyone has an opinion on the research question I'd love to hear it since I am struggling coming up with a conclusion to this. :)
From Mary Beard's SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome:
>It was as if military victory allowed the general literally to step into a godโs shoes, just for the day โ which explains why the slave standing behind him in the chariot was supposed to have whispered in his ear, over and over again, โRemember youโre (just) a man.โ
One of the most powerful memento mori ever. Allegedly, Marcus Aurelius had a slave employed for the same purpose: remind him every morning that he's just a (mortal) man. But I can't find a reliable source on that.
Outside of that pompey/caesar era where triumphs were happening all the time
If you were a 50 year old roman citizen, how many triumph were you likely to have witnessed?
-First, I would be remiss if I failed to recommend Hardcore History, a podcast by Dan Carlin. This is where I first heard of Tom Holland with his texts constantly being referenced. I cannot advocate enough for Hardcore History, it's absolutely fantastic.
- As far as snapshots into history go, Rubicon was phenomenal. Rome in the 100's-60's B.C. was a breeding ground for giants. Larger than life figures in the Senate, and the battlefield loomed and defended, or jeopardized, a sacred Republic really only glimpsed previously in Greece. Holland does an admirable job remaining unbiased, but I could not help but feel aligned with certain characters for either their courage, or their wit. Caesar is undeniably the lead, but the names of Cicero, Cato, Pompey, Sulla, Crassus, Caesar Augustus, Clodius, Gaius goddamn Marius, Mark Antony, the Sibyl, Cleopatra, Mithridates...and on and on.. so many fantastic figures and events to be analyzed and remembered. I encourage all lovers of stories to seek out ancient Rome, and read about these legends.
-The Rubicon itself was a creek north of Rome, where it was said, generals had to relinquish their legions before crossing, as a symbol they would not march on Rome herself, "the Mistress of the World". I imagine what it was like for Sulla, but even more so Caesar, when that moment came in which each decided in their hearts to march on the Republic, and cross that river. I picture Caesar's gaze on the flowing waters, as the moonlight shone off its surface, reflecting on all that was at stake. Democracy vs. Dictatorship, Freedom vs. Power. For it was Caesar's march and subsequent tyranny that proved the death knell of the Republic, and a civil war that began to topple Rome. I can't imagine the magnitude of that moment on even a giant like Julius Caesar, and the perilousness of such a minor maneuver. Such a small moment with ramifications felt throughout the rest of world history. Awesome.
-I often wonder the benefits of authoritarianism vs democracy as it relates to Rome. With the Republic, power was shared through dual consuls, a tribunate, praetors, questors, the Senate, priests and so on. A glory-thirsty people vied for power, and contentions, and rivalries were constant. Speeches and trials at the Senate House were public spectacles, as were elections. Rome had a very real class system, and the poor were still inferior in the Republic. But, every man had the opportunity to make a name for himself, and gain honors for hi
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