his Time in Rhodes
had been absent for more than seven years
his return to Rome
belief in a glorious future, fixed in his mind by prophecies and presages
Prophecies for his greatness
- before his birth Livia, to foretell if he would be a male or female, warmed a hen’s egg, she hatched a cock chick with already a fine comb
- an astrologer prophesied an illustrious career and a crown-less kingship
-Geryon’s oracle he drew lots that advised him to throw golden dice into the fountain of Aponus, he made the highest possible cast. - few days before the letter recalling him from Rhodes, an eagle (never before seen on the island) perched on his roof.
-On the eve of his welcome his tunic seemed ablaze
-when the ship strove into sight Tiberius was strolling along the cliffs with Thrasyllus the astrologer, was going to push him off the cliffs, loosing trust, pointed out the ship saying it brought good news.
(compare these prophesies to what actually happened
Tiberius upon his return to Rome
- introduced Drusus to public life
- lived in strict retirement
- took no part in public life
3 years after Tiberius’ return
- Gaius’ and Lucius’ deaths (adopted sons of Augustus born of Julia, his heirs, he was their maternal grandfather)
- Augustus adopted Tiberius and Agrippa Posthumus( the brother of Gaius and Lucius)
Augustus’ gens
Julia
Tiberius’ gens
Claudio-Julian (claudian dynasty was what Livia probably wanted to support)
What did Augusts make Tiberius do
-adopt his nephew Germanicus
-Tiberius no longer acted as the head of the family (such as giving gifts and freeing slaves)
- refunded all inheritances and legacies that did not count as his peculium
-
peculium
the father of a family could allot the use of a certain amount of property since his son could not legally posses some of his own
Augustus support of Tiberius
did everything possible to advance Tiberius’ reputation
- disowned Agrippa Postumus
- given another 5 years of tribunician power
What was Tiberius’ task (for which he was given tribunician power) from Augustus
to pacify Germany an suppress the Illyrian revolt which occurred there
public mourning for Varus
Tiberius himself postponed his Illyrian triumph
tribunal, four corule chairs, with the senate behind, Tiberius sat beside Augustus consuls on either side. from this place of honour he addressed the popular cheer
His postponed Illyrian triumph
celebrated two years after going to GErmany
provided a 1000-table public banquet
300 sesterces to every male guest
The money from his spoils went to restore temples (Castor and Pollux, temple of concord)
Tiberius given power (supposedly) as much as Augustus near the latter’s death
The consuls introduced a measure which gave Tiberius joint control of the provinces with Augustus
And to help him carry out the next 5 years census.
Augustus on his death
Tiberius set of for Illyricum but immediately recalled by Augustus, spent a whole day in confidential talk
Suetonius on what Augustus gasped to his attendants when Tiberius left
“I am well aware of the story that”
“poor Rome, doomed to be ground by those slow moving jaws.”
“According to some writer’s” why did he adopt Tiberius and his opinion of this
Tiberius because his death would be regretted with a successor like Tiberius.
“how could so prudent and far-sighted a leader have acted as blindly as this”
My opinion is that he weighed Tiberius’ good qualities against the bad.
Had referred to him as An outstanding general and the only one capable of defending Rome against her enemies
Augustus’ letter to Tiberius about his military prowess
“Bravest of men and the most conscientious general alive”
His summer campaigns “no other man alive could have conducted them more capably”
all those that served with you agree with me that “alone he saved us by his cautious ways” should be changed to “alone he saved us by his watchful eye”
