The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 06 : $b the early Roman Empire
History
The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 06 : $b the early Roman Empire
World history
The whole world was refreshed, and breathed as if a great load had been
lifted from its shoulders. The Asiatic towns in particular offered thanks
to the peace-bringer in their inflated hyperbolical fashion which was
nevertheless genuine and heartfelt. Halicarnassus celebrated him as
“father of the fatherland,” and as “saviour of the whole race of man,
whose wisdom has not only satisfied but also exceeded the prayers of
all; for peace reigns over land and water, and the states flourish in
righteousness, harmony, and well-being. All the good waxes full ripe and
turns to fruit.” In a decree of the town Apamea we read that Cæsar was
born for the salvation of the whole world; so his birthday may rightly be
termed the beginning of life and of existence.
We may see how general and how hearty was the rejoicing over the
restoration of peace throughout the world from the fact that Pax and
Irene now became names not only of slaves and freedmen of the imperial
house, but also of members of other distinguished families. From the
agnomen Pax was even formed a surname Paxsæus.
Trade and industry revived and prosperity increased from the time when
the armed peace and the civil wars had come to an end. The whole earth in
all its compass experienced once more, after long distress, the blessings
of enduring peace, and did honour to the prince of peace, conveying
thanks for this new fortune by the erection of temples and altars to the
glory of the imperial peace. On the Greek and Latin coins of this period
too we see the goddess of peace; in Asia Minor for example on the coins
of Cos and Nicomedia. Even the veterans of the emperor stamped on their
colonial coins PA--CIS with the picture of the goddess of peace bearing
the features of Livia or Julia. On other coins the emperor is celebrated
both as prince of peace and of liberty; the later ones speak even of an
eternal peace. One of the Spanish veteran colonies introduced even the
name of Pax Julia; on their coins we see enthroned a fully draped female
figure holding a horn of plenty in her left hand and a herald’s staff in
her right.
This official worship of peace was continued throughout the whole reign
of the emperor. One of the greatest honours devised by the senate and
accepted by the emperor was the state-directed dedication of an altar
of peace in the year 13 B.C. To-day we may still see on fine reliefs of
the time of Augustus the group of peoples, in garments of ceremony and
crowned with laurels, confronting the ruler on his return home. These
provide us with the best picture of the national scenes in the streets of
the capital when men were expecting the triple triumph of Cæsar.
“To thy blest altar, Peace, our song must tend
This day, the second ere the month will end;
Come, crowned with laurels from the Actian Bay,
And mildly deign here to prolong thy stay.
Without a foe we for no triumphs care,
Thou to our chiefs more glorious art than war.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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