Romans held Greek civilization in high regard and, like us, considered fifth-century-BC Greece to be the region’s golden age, a time characterized by refined artistic and cultural production, scholarship, and military strength. During his reign five hundred years later, Augustus sought to align his rule with this era and promote a rebirth of the golden age of Greece in Rome. Augustus’s interest in Greek art and culture strengthened Roman reverence for classical Greek art, philosophy, and intellectual life. Knowledge of Greek culture became a mark of refinement and a symbol of an individual’s social status. The works of art collected by prominent Romans further reflected their familiarity with Greek history, art, and literature. After the.
