UCD Research Seminar (Prof. Alison Cooley, 29th March 2023)

UCD Classics Research Seminar

Professor Alison Cooley (University of Warwick)

Debating Tiberian political discourse

This paper will explore the development of political discourse under Tiberius, the mechanisms and agents by which this discourse was created, and the degree to which it was shaped and challenged in different contexts. Firstly, it justifies the approach of looking for distinctively Tiberian features in contemporary political discourse by demonstrating that Tiberius was not simply continuing Augustan models of behaviour and politics, even though Augustus remained important as a paradigm and source of authority for Tiberius and for emperors beyond him to the end of the first century. Secondly, it explores the contributions made by different media and agents to the creation of a distinctively Tiberian discourse, taking the theme of maiestas as a case-study. It will examine how political discourse was created and debated, looking at ways in which different voices could contribute to the transformation of the age of Augustus into the principate of Tiberius.

In person: Meeting Room 4, UCD Village

Hybrid: Zoom link with Eventbrite booking confirmation