Quotes from Anthony Everitt

If we could get on without a wife, Romans, we would all avoid that annoyance; but since nature has ordained that we can neither live very comfortably with them nor at all without them, we must take thought for our lasting well-being rather than for the pleasure of the moment.

Immediately, a codicillus, an order, was sent to Planasia to execute Agrippa Postumus.

What was certain, though, is that sheer good luck—the untimely elimination

of both Hirtius and Pansa—had placed Octavian in an extraordinarily powerful position.

Octavian decided that they should be put to death.

The tribune in command of Agrippa's guard told a centurion to see to the matter.

the Senate ordered that the dead consuls' armies should be handed over to Decimus Brutus, he refused

He insulted the more distinguished of the captives who came before him for judgment

presently occupied by Cleopatra, who was busy packing her bags for a rapid exit to Egypt.

he now controlled eight legions, loyal to him rather than the Republic.

one man humbly asked to be given a proper burial

Tiberius was persuaded to remain silent. The matter was closed.

Octavian merely replied: "That's a matter for the carrion birds to decide.

the established legions would refuse to fight under the command of one of Julius Caesar's assassins.

offered his life for his son's, and was executed. The son then committed suicide. Octavian watched them both die.

The focus for any trouble would be Agrippa Postumus, the last male representative of the Julian

Some were popular sex symbols: graffiti from the first century AD have been found on walls in Pompeii—one Thracian gladiator was "the maiden's prayer and delight" and "the doctor to cure girls." Their images appeared on pots and dishes.

Caesar was handing Octavius a priceless weapon: his name and his clientela

Octavian was less generous with the remains:

They greeted him enthusiastically as Caesar's son.

he had the head chopped off and sent to Rome to be thrown at the feet of a statue of Julius Caesar.

and wanted to replace Tiberius with Agrippa, and that Livia acted to defeat him.

He would accept the legacy, avenge his "father"'s death, and succeed to Caesar's power.

The cruelty and confusion that the proscription brought about was widespread