Augustus

“I seek Fulvia’s clitoris” For these messages, see CIL 11 2.1 1901.

“[Octavian] took vengeance” Suet Aug 15.

“our fatherland’s Perusian graves” Prop 1223–4.

“Because Antony fucks Glaphyra” Mart 11 20.

Octavian was accused of loose living For the anecdotes that follow, see Suet Aug 68–70.

“Look how the queen’s finger beats the drum!” Ibid., 68.

“aggravated her illness deliberately” App 559.

“deeply attached to his sister” Plut Ant 31 1.

“in military and Roman fashion” Dio 48 30 1.

“Antony did not win general approval” App 565.

IX. GOLDEN AGE

Appian and Dio are the main sources, with material from Suetonius. Plutarch’s life of Antony describes the encounter at Misenum in some detail. Two of Virgil’s eclogues and passages in the Georgics cast light on the political scene.

“He was tall” Suet De Vir Ill, Life of Virgil 8–11.

“The Firstborn” Virg Ecl 47–10.

about to leave politics It is possible that the poem was written a year earlier, in 41 B.C., before Pollio’s consulship in 40 B.C.

“For my part” Macr 2421.

As soon as the crowd For this account, see App 568.

“My only ancestral home” Plut Ant 32 3.

“Shall I cut the cables” Ibid., 32 4–5.

gravis femina Sen Ep 870.

“I couldn’t bear the way” Suet Aug 62 2.

“friendship gone mad” Sen Ep 19.

the sex of her child Suet Tib 14 2, Pliny 10 75 154–5.

Livia and the baby Suet Tib 62.

“What are you doing” Dio 48 44 3.

“How fortunate” Suet Clau 11.

The Roman marriage ceremony I am indebted to Carcopino, pp. 87–88, and to Smith, p. 252, for my account of Livia’s wedding.

an eagle flew by Suet Galb 1.

White Poultry Ad Gallinas Albas was rediscovered at Prima Porta outside Rome in the nineteenth century. Extensive ruins of the villa remain, although they are not open to the public. See La villa di Livia a Prima Porta (Rome, 1984), published by Messineo with coauthor Carmelo Calci in the series Lavori e studi di archeologia, pubblicati dalla soprintendenza archeologica di Roma.

X. FIGHTING NEPTUNE

This chapter depends mainly on Appian’s militarily astute account of the Sicilian war in Book 5 of his Civil Wars, with some support from Dio and anecdotes from Suetonius.

“At daybreak, as he looked out” App 588.

According to Homer Hom Od 12 86ff.

“as broad as a wagon road” Strabo 545.

“If the worst” Plut Ant 35.

“Come and see me” Hor Ep 1415–16.

“Of small build” Ibid., 120.

“If I don’t love you” Suet De Vir Ill (Life of Horace).

a lighthearted poem The section that follows is based on Hor Sat 15.

“second Rome” Cic Phil 12 3 7.

“for ball-games” Hor Sat 1549.

“Here, like an utter fool” Ibid., 1582–85.

“I will win this war” Suet Aug 16 2.

“He took a beating” Ibid., 70 2.

“to steal over” App 5 109.

believing he was about to be captured Pliny 7147–49.

“terribly distressed” Dio 49 5 4.

“On the eve of the battle” Suet Aug 16 2.

“bringing with him” Vell Pat 2803.

“was hit on the breastplate” App 5 125.

“You will when you’re dead” Ibid.

142…Antony’s approval Ibid., 5144.

XI. PARTHIAN SHOTS

Appian and Dio are complemented by Plutarch, who in his life of Mark Antony covers the Parthian expedition in detail.

tribunicia sacrosanctitas There is confusion in the sources. Appian wrongly says Octavian became tribune for life, whereas Dio asserts simply sacrosanctitas. Dio gives two separate dates when Octavian was given full tribunician power or potestas, 30 and 23; he may not have accepted the offer on the first occasion, or perhaps only certain powers. He first used potestas in 23.

“jealous of [Ventidius]” Dio 49 21 1.

nobody saw anything especially scandalous When Plut Ant 36 2 speaks of “deep resentment among the Romans,” this almost certainly reflects later propaganda about Cleopatra’s evil influence over Antony.

expelled a man from the Senate Plut Cat 17 7.