Political Mythology in the Work of Valerius Maximus

Abstract

The article examines the ideas about the republic in the work of the Roman author Valerius Maximus, who lived at the beginning of the principate. The most revealing elements of the republican structure are taken for analysis: the People's Assembly, the Senate, the Tribunes of the Plebs, freedom, the enemies of freedom, as well as the image of Cato the Younger as the embodiment of the moral spirit of the republic. Valerius's narrative is dominated by outstanding personalities and the Senate, which fully corresponds to the current political situation. Such attention to the individual reflects a certain departure from polis collectivism. "Freedom" is perceived by Valerius undoubtedly as the antipode of the sole power, although the special position of the princeps in the new political system was also realized by our author. However, the contradiction here is only external, since already under Augustus an understanding of freedom as “security” (securitas) was formed, which linked freedom with authoritarian power. The views of Valerius Maximus basically correspond to the optimate’ worldview, i.e. the res publica of the past for him is primarily associated with the leadership of the Senate. But this optimate’ view reflects the opposition of the “best citizens” not only to the unreasonable people, but also to the claims of an outstanding personality to sole rule. In this respect, this “program” has come into clear contradiction with the new political situation, changing and adapting as the monarchical principle strengthens. The transformation of optimate’ views is shown by the example of an ardent supporter of the republic Cato the Younger, whose image in Valerius Maximus’ work reflects the transformation of past events into textbook examples outside the historical context.