Culture and National Identity in Republican Rome

by Erich S. Gruen

Few encounters in antiquity have had more profound consequences than that between Greek culture and Republican Rome. Focusing on the ruling elites of the middle and later Republic, for whom Hellenic literature, religion, and visual arts were at once intimidating and appealing, Erich S. Gruen offers a compelling account of the assimilation and adaptation of Greek culture by the Romans.

Gruen examines such key cultural developments in the history of Republican Rome as the adaptation of the legend of Troy to create a special place for Rome within Hellenic traditions and Cato's campaign to distinguish Roman cultural achievements by defining them in contrast to those of the Greeks. He describes the diverse purposes--civic, religious, and political--for which the Romans used Greek art, as well as the reshaping of Hellenic models to express a distinctively Roman character in historical reliefs, portraiture, and comic drama. The book treats a variety of means whereby the Greek legacy was molded to suit the living Roman tradition. Gruen shows that this complex process of cultural transformation served to sharpen the Romans' sense of their own values their national character, and their international image.

Demonstrating that the Roman response to Hellenism was far more subtle and dynamic than has generally been acknowledged, Culture and National Identity in Republican Rome will be welcomed as an outstanding contribution by readers interested in ancient history, classical literature, and the history of art.

Genres: History, Roman History, Philosophy

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Jane Arney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure why the subtitle is so wrong, but this book provides an outstanding overview of the impact of Greek culture upon Rome in the days of the Republic. There are flaws in it though, mainly the constant, often flimsy protests by Gruen that the Romans actually embraced Greek culture and the sources who say otherwise are just prejudiced in one way or another. Despite this, each chapter treats an aspect of the encounter between Greeks and Romans in a comprehensive manner and marshals an impressive array of sources. An absolute must-read for anyone who studies ancient Rome.

[Ian Janssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, but dumb question I can't figure out where else to ask: who do we contact to get the title corrected in Goodreads? It's driving me nuts.

[Kurt Kosak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it for the parts on Hellenism and the relation to Rome on that matter, and Gruen did not disappoint :)

[William Prueter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go to prueter.org. Click on my Latin page, go to ancient Roman philosophy, scroll down to 572.