Fact and Fiction: Crassus, Augustus and the Spolia Opima
Catherine McPherson
Hirundo: the McGill Journal of Classical Studies, Vol.8 (2009-10)
Dedicating the spolia opima was the highest honour a Roman commander could achieve, outstripping even the most lavish triumph. Such a dedication occurred when a Roman commander personally killed the enemy’s king or general in battle, stripping the body of its armour, which was then brought back to Rome and dedicated at the temple of Jupiter Feretrius on the Capitol. The extreme rarity of such an occurrence, as well as its semi-mythical history, ensured that the spolia opima remained a particularly exalted honour, more ingrained in legend than in reality. This paper provides an attempt to study the transition from the late republic to the early imperial period through the changing nature of this important honour. Such a study requires an analysis of the accomplishments of Marcus Licinius Crassus, who in 29/28 B.C. won the right to dedicate the spolia opima at the temple of Jupiter Feretrius, but did not do so. The reasons behind this decision are illustrative of both the uncertain, but also influential, nature of Octavian’s power in the years between Actium (31 B.C.) and the Settlement of 27.
The spolia opima were reputedly dedicated only three times in Roman history. This tradition allegedly began under Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome, after he killed King Acron of the Caeninenses following the abduction of the Sabine women. Romulus returned in triumph to Rome with the armour of the slain king, vowing to build a temple to Jupiter Feretrius at which future generals would dedicate the spolia opima. In fact, this temple was the first to be consecrated at Rome. The spolia opima were again dedicated by A.Cornelius Cossus in the mid-fifth century after he killed Lars Tolumnius, King of Veii. They were dedicated for the last time by M. Claudius Marcellus in 222 after the Battle of Clas- tidium during which Marcellus killed the Gallic leader Viridomarus.
Catherine McPherson
Hirundo: the McGill Journal of Classical Studies, Vol.8 (2009-10)
Dedicating the spolia opima was the highest honour a Roman commander could achieve, outstripping even the most lavish triumph. Such a dedication occurred when a Roman commander personally killed the enemy’s king or general in battle, stripping the body of its armour, which was then brought back to Rome and dedicated at the temple of Jupiter Feretrius on the Capitol. The extreme rarity of such an occurrence, as well as its semi-mythical history, ensured that the spolia opima remained a particularly exalted honour, more ingrained in legend than in reality. This paper provides an attempt to study the transition from the late republic to the early imperial period through the changing nature of this important honour. Such a study requires an analysis of the accomplishments of Marcus Licinius Crassus, who in 29/28 B.C. won the right to dedicate the spolia opima at the temple of Jupiter Feretrius, but did not do so. The reasons behind this decision are illustrative of both the uncertain, but also influential, nature of Octavian’s power in the years between Actium (31 B.C.) and the Settlement of 27.
The spolia opima were reputedly dedicated only three times in Roman history. This tradition allegedly began under Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome, after he killed King Acron of the Caeninenses following the abduction of the Sabine women. Romulus returned in triumph to Rome with the armour of the slain king, vowing to build a temple to Jupiter Feretrius at which future generals would dedicate the spolia opima. In fact, this temple was the first to be consecrated at Rome. The spolia opima were again dedicated by A.Cornelius Cossus in the mid-fifth century after he killed Lars Tolumnius, King of Veii. They were dedicated for the last time by M. Claudius Marcellus in 222 after the Battle of Clas- tidium during which Marcellus killed the Gallic leader Viridomarus.
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