Aristocratic family identity in the Roman Republic

This dissertation examines elements of a phenomenon in Roman aristocratic culture I term "family identity". Family identity is the unique image each noble clan projected to the public. I investigate some elements of family identity and how identity advertisement attempted to distinguish families as different from others engaged in the same process.;Chapter Two examines legendary genealogies, which were used by families to show that they had ancient and extraordinary (usually divine or regal) origins. I argue that some also developed genealogies from gods or legendary personalities to gain a unique place in the state religion, or to rationalize a pre-existing role in a cult. Others even used their ancestry to assert their position on certain political issues. I demonstrate that genealogies were the least conservative element of family identity---families would discard even ancient legends for those more politically expedient or popular (e.g. a Trojan one).;Chapter Three investigates family advertisement of Italic ethnicity, concentrating on the three major groups comprising the Republican aristocracy: the Latins, Sabines and Etruscans. Families of Latin origin could claim the same ethnicity as most of the traditional aristocracy. Sabines enjoyed this as well as the antiquity and the positive stereotype of their ethnic group. Aside from a proud few, families of Etruscan origin often avoided the advertisement of their ethnicity or tried to hide their origins because of their negative stereotype.;Chapter Four studies family symbols and public honors. Such symbolism could refer to military prowess, religious connections or special family virtues. I show that some families use their symbols so well that other families---and even the state---might coopt them for their own use. Other families earned conspicuous honors which they could exercise at various public spectacles, and in this way advertise themselves.;Finally, I argue that modern scholars have overemphasized the innovation of Caesar and Augustus in advertising their families: they were merely pursuing family identity advertisement, a Republican custom. What Caesar and Augustus did that was innovative was to supplant the identity of the Roman state with that of their own gentes.