I have had a fairly hectic week regarding research. I keep going back and forth regarding my topic, tweaking different aspects based on the direction I want to take my paper in. In preparation for my topic proposal, I have decided to still focus on Italian history, but have changed what my paper is centered around. Now, I would like to discuss Mussolini in relation to the Emperor Augustus. I want to discuss how both men controlled the ‘pop culture’ of their times, in Fascist Italy and Imperial Rome, respectively, to give validity to their rule. Augustus was infatuated with connecting himself to the divine, in order to make himself appear as more than mortal to the Roman people. In his footsteps, Mussolini did the same, adding himself to the family tree of the Caesars. Some interesting sources I have found are archaeological. The Ara Pacis (Arc of peace) is a triumphal arch from Augustus’ time, which he used to depict epics of himself with Greek figures such as Achilles. Another interesting archaeological source is the Forum of Augustus in Central Rome. Its excavation was led by none other than Mussolini, who created a Plaza right next to the Forum, to further his fabricated connection to Augustus. Another source I have found fruitful is a specific speech delivered from Mussolini, when he is calling for the citizens of Italy to support his desired conquests in Africa, to expand the ’empire’ of the country. Mussolini was obsessed with a return to the prowess of the Roman Empire, and made various connections to it through his speeches and acts. I found one interesting secondary source so far, called Mussolini and the Idealization of Empire that investigates how Mussolini was changing the landscape of Rome to show new connections to the past.
Below is a photo of the Forum of Augustus