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Anchises Censorius Vergil, Augustus, And The Census Of 28 B.C.E., Eric Kondratieff

History Faculty Publications

In Vergil’s Aeneid, Anchises, like Aeneas, may be seen as a pattern of Augustus,as his survey of his progeny reflects Augustus’ censorial activity(Augustus conducted his first census, without holding the office of censor,in 28 B.C.E.). This theory is supported by: verbal cues alluding to Rome’stopography and the location for the upper-class recognitio equitum; technicalterms used to describe Anchises’ activity as he assesses his descendants;Anchises’ hortatory and monitory speech, similar to that of censors knownfrom other literary works; and Vergil’s choice of heroes to represent therepublic, most of whom were censors or from censorial families.