Another Propaganda Snippet

From: Nick_Brooke_at_deloitte.touche.co.uk
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 96 15:23:33 GMT


Before I forget, here's another bit of Roman propaganda trivia to amuse and edify you all. The first known representation of the symbolic/patriotic figure "Britannia" in art is as a subjected woman, being trampled upon by the militarily-garbed emperor Clau-Clau-Claudius, on a relief commemorating his conquest of that remote island (found somewhere in Asia Minor IIRC).

(Her contemporary manifestation, with helmet, shield, trident, swathed in the Union flag, arose from a fancy-dress costume devised by one of King Charles the Second's many mistresses, though with slightly more covering the bosom -- Charles was a *very* Merry Monarch...)

And, spin control: Augustus negotiated with the Parthian Empire for many years over the precise degree of influence the Romans and Parthians were to enjoy in the neighbouring kingdom of Armenia. A compromise was fudged out, which in all honesty was satisfactory to neither side, but Augustus had "ARMENIA CAPTA" (Armenia Captured!) inscribed on a celebratory coin and issued throughout the Empire. A lot more memorable than the real story...



Nick

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