The Imperial Golden Age

Bust of Antoninus Pius, Roman emperor 138--161 CE

The middle of the second century, when Pius ruled, is often considered the height of Roman or Classical civilization. The years from 138-161 were a time of peace on the frontiers, internal stability and prosperity. The Pax Romana was at its most secure. Impressed by the Roman achievement, the Greek orator Aristides delivered a speech in praise of the Empire. Aristides spoke in the Antheneum in Rome and his audience may have included the emperor Pius. Some excerpts:

"The world speaks in unison like a chorus, and so well does it harmonize under its chorus master it joins it in praying for this empire to last for all time."

"Like one continuous country and one race, all the world quietly obeys. Everything is carried out by command or nod, and it is simpler than plucking the string of a lyre."

"It is you that have best proved the general assertion that Earth is mother of all and common fatherland. Now indeed it is possible for anyone, hellene or non-hellene, to go anywhere he wants with or without his property as if he were passing from homeland to homeland. Homer said Earth common to all, and you've made it come true."

Before the rule of Zeus, as the poets say, everything was in faction, uproar, chaos. But when Zeus came to rule everything was put in order. So too, in light of the situation before you and under you, one may suppose that before your Empire everything was in faction, topsy turvy and completely disorganized. But when you took charge faction and confusion ceased, and Universal Order shone like a glorious light on the public affairs of mankind."

"As on a holiday, the civilized world lays down the weapons that were its ancient burden, and turns to all manner of adornment and glad thoughts with the power to realize them. Cities glisten with radiance and charm, and the entire Earth has been made beautiful like a garden. Like a perpetual sacred flame, the celebration is unending."

Of course the Imperial Golden Age didn't last. Marcus Aurelius, the successor of Pius, faced serious crises and they were a mere foretaste of third century catastrophes. But the reign of Pius must rank as one of the great ages of mankind. Two thousand years later, Gibbon wrote that "If a man were called upon to name that period of history during which the condition of the human race was most prosperous and happy he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus. The vast extent of the Roman Empire was governed by absolute power, under the guidance of virtue and wisdom." Pius exemplified that Golden Age.