Myth and Symbols of Power

This topic explores how ancient societies, particularly Greece and Rome, used myths and symbols to construct, legitimise, and reinforce political power. You will examine how rulers from Alexander the Great to the Roman emperors associated themselves with divine figures like Heracles, Zeus, and Apollo, and used symbols such as the laurel wreath, eagle, and sceptre to project authority. The unit also covers how myths of foundation (e.g., Romulus and Remus) and heroic ancestry were manipulated to create a sense of destiny and superiority.

Understanding 'Myth and Symbols of Power' is crucial because it reveals how propaganda worked in the ancient world without mass media. By decoding these myths and symbols, you learn to analyse primary sources—statues, coins, architecture, and literature—as political statements. This topic also connects to broader themes in Classical Civilisation, such as religion, society, and the role of the individual, and it sharpens your ability to evaluate how power is presented and challenged across cultures.

In the OCR GCSE, this topic appears in the 'Myth and Religion' thematic study. You will be expected to know specific examples from both Greek and Roman contexts, including the myth of Heracles as a model for rulers, the use of the Trojan War myth by the Julio-Claudian dynasty, and the symbolism of the Augustan 'Altar of Peace' (Ara Pacis). Mastery of this material will help you write sophisticated essays that compare and contrast different uses of myth and symbol across time.