Augustus_ The Life of Rome's First Emperor - Anthony Everitt [192]
by his maternal grandmother Nic 3.
Atia won a reputation Ibid.
“We must apply to our fellow-countrymen” Cic De Or 3137.
“There was not a great difference” Castle, p. 129.
“a good man skilled in speech” Quint Inst Or 12 1.
“humble origin” Suet Gaius 23 1.
He may have come from Venetia Syme AA p. 44.
According to Aulus Gellius Aul Gell 16 16 1–4.
born in this perilous manner Pliny 745.
II. THE GREAT-UNCLE
Most of the personal characteristics I ascribe to Julius Caesar, Pompey, Crassus, Cato, and Mark Antony are drawn from the accounts given in Plutarch and Suetonius. Again Nicolaus is useful. Caesar’s own history of the civil war is accurate but self-serving. Appian is valuable.
“From now onward” Vell Pat 233.
optimates I use the English form, for the Latin word can only be used in the plural.
“His dress was” Suet Caes 45 3.
“It was really very difficult” Plut Cat Min 12.
“That cannot be true” Ibid., 19 4.
“Caesar was the only sober man” Suet Caes 53.
“in common with Antony’s” Plut Ant 25.
“provoked by the sight of her” App 58.
“for he often helped others” Plut Ant 43.
they quietly sent Gaius Nic 4.
“Let the dice fly high!” Plut Pomp 60 2.
“the new style of conquest” Cic Att 174c (97c).
“He does not know” Suet Caes 36.
III. A POLITICAL MASTER CLASS
Nicolaus remains a source for anecdotes about Gaius. Plutarch’s and Suetonius’ lives of Caesar throw light on Caesar’s activities, as do Appian and the commentaries on the Alexandrian war and the African war, written by Caesarian supporters. Plutarch’s life of Cato recounts his suicide. Here and elsewhere I am indebted to Michael Grant’s Cleopatra.
“I shall have the whole Senatorial” Dio 45 2 5–6.
“with body and limbs” Suet Aug 79 2.
“He attracted many women” Nic 4.
“he was of age” Ibid.
“The year/Drags for orphan boys” Hor Ep 1121–22.
Alexander the Great’s Macedonian commanders For more on Alexander, see Green, Peter, Alexander of Macedon (London: Penguin, 1974), and on his successors the same author’s Alexander to Actium (London: Thames and Hudson, 1990).
“this little trick” Plut Caes 49 2.
“As far as they say” Plut Ant 27 2–3.
“Many rulers of Egypt” Plut Ant 27 3–4.
“enjoyed himself” App 290. Some modern historians discount the historicity of this jaunt, largely on the grounds that Caesar would not be so irresponsible. However, one of the features of his character was an arrogant carelessness. Also, Appian says that he provides more detail (now sadly lost) of this adventure in his Egyptian history, from which it is reasonable to assume that the journey was well attested.
“for a sight of the boy” Nic 4.
“he might bring on illness” Ibid., 6.
attitude toward suicide This section is indebted to van Hoof.
“had hard work to withstand” Caes Gall 61.
“take any cruel action” Dio 43 15 2.
“The Republic is nothing” Suet Caes 77.
IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Appian and Dio provide the basic historical narrative, Nicolaus, Plutarch, and Suetonius color and anecdote.
On the day of the triumph Some generic details are taken from Plutarch’s description of Aemilius Paullus’ triumph (Plut Aem Pau 32–35).
The most popular attraction This section is indebted to Carcopino, Grant Glad, and Meijer.
“He took care” Nic 8.
“according to my uncle’s instructions” Ibid., 10.
“I have often fought” Plut Caes 56 3.
“He made a point” Nic 11.
“nothing womanly about her” Vell Pat 2742.
It is probable that Octavius When Nicolaus reports that he asked for, and received, permission to go home and see his mother, he does not make it clear where Octavius was at the time of the request. It would make more sense if he was at Labici than en route to Italy (otherwise, why would he have asked leave to go to his journey’s obvious destination?).
“sexual gratification” Nic 15.
“should sail” Celsus 111. It is worth noting that in later life, Octavius lived abstemiously, a habit that may well have been developed in his youth.
V. A BOY WITH A NAME
Nicolaus gives most information about Octavian’s stay at Apollonia