Domitian made a fatal mistake by abandoning the carefully calibrated Augustan titles of "first citizen" and "first among equals" in favor of the autocratic epithet "lord and god" ( dominus et deus). Commemoration of the consecratio, or official deification, of Vespasian and Titus was a favorite Domitianic theme, reiterated in the Arch of Titus, the Temple of the Deified Vespasian, the Porticus Divorum, and, finally, the Templum Gentis Flaviae.ĭomitian's emphasis on the divine aspect of his Flavian heritage, however, reflected a dangerous shift in his attitude toward the office of princeps. He inherited and amplified the building program of his father and brother, straining the resources of the imperial treasury to fund official monuments in honor of the Flavian dynasty. Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79, a disastrous fire in Rome in AD 80, and a devastating outbreak of plague-Titus died with his personal popularity and the prestige of the Flavian dynasty undiminished.ĭomitian (AD 81-96) Domitian, the third and final Flavian emperor, was a more complicated personality than the unpretentious Vespasian and the promising Titus.
#Flavian portraiture series
Although his brief reign was beset by a series of catastrophes-the eruption of Mt. Titus' tenure on the throne was tragically short all Rome mourned his untimely passing. Palm tree flanked by standing male and seated female captive recalls the triumph Titus celebrated ten years earlier. It produced one of Rome's most enduring monuments, the Colosseum, which was known to the Romans as the "Flavian Amphitheater" ( Amphiteatrum Flavium). Vespasian also inaugurated an ambitious public building program in the name of the Flavian dynasty. Treasures looted from the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been destroyed by legions under the command of Titus, were featured in the triumphal procession. Vespasian introduced Titus, the heir apparent, to the populace of Rome as his co- triumphator and the conqueror of Jerusalem. In his first year as emperor, he began a dynastic "public relations campaign" with a magnificent triumph celebrating the Flavian victory over Judaea. Vespasian vigorously pursued a propagandistic program of glorifying the Flavian dynasty throughout his 10-year reign. 25), the Senate and the Roman people acclaimed the founding of the Flavian dynasty. When Vespasian declared that "his sons would succeed him or no one" (Suetonius, Vesp. Even more importantly, Vespasian was the father of two healthy adult sons, Titus and Domitian, who offered the welcome prospect of establishing a new imperial dynasty. His recent suppression of rebellion in Judaea had capped a distinguised career as a Roman general. Vespasian could base his claim to the throne on neither aristocratic ancestry nor family ties to the Julio-Claudian dynasty. When Titus Flavius Vespasianus became emperor in AD 69, he ended a year of civil war and restored peace and stability to the Roman Empire. It does not store any personal data.Relief portrait of Vespasian (Kelsey Museum 2430) The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.