Date Approved

3-15-2013

Date Posted

6-20-2013

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department or School

History and Philosophy

Committee Member

Dr. Ronald K. Delph, Chair

Committee Member

Dr. James P. Holoka

Abstract

The paper investigates the way in which Roman leaders, during the classical and Renaissance periods, used foundation myths as a form of persona l propaganda. It shows that men like Julius Caesar used the supposed founders of the city to promote their own claims to power through art and architecture. It not only explains how men like Augustus would build upon this by including not only the city’s founders, but also Caesar to legitimize their own claims though art, architecture, and literature. And final ly, it provides a look into how the princes of the Renaissance—especially the papal princes—took ancient, imperial, and biblical founders to uphold the papacy’s power over Rome and Christendom, through art, architecture, literature, and art collecting.

Included in

History Commons

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