In 12 BCE, Drusus completed a census in the three Gauls. The other thing Drusus was responsible for during this period was getting ready to cross the Rhine. Around the winter of 13-12 BCE, there was another raid by German warriors into the Roman provinces. It was repulsed by Drusus and then in the spring…

A very special episode. Over the last 12 months, there’s been a ton of articles in the media comparing Donald Trump to Julius Caesar. A recent Shakespeare in the Park production of Julius Caesar in New York depicted Caesar as Donald Trump. We decided that as WE are the world’s leading experts on Caesar, we…

The loss of Agrippa was a huge blow, but Tiberius and Drusus stepped up. However, now Augustus’ daughter Julia was now single again. Who could he find to marry her? Also – what kind of board games did they play in Rome?

Augustus buries Agrippa. After the funeral, attention turned to the matter of Agrippa’s will and the disbursement of his enormous estate. Work began on the Ara Pacis Augustae, a temple dedicated to the Augustan peace, that featured the Princeps, his family and Agrippa. We have Mussolini to thank for it being excavated and reconstructed in…

Agrippa returned to Rome in 13, stayed a few months, long enough to knock Julia up again, then left to deal with some military problems in Illyricum. On his way back to Rome he fell ill – and died.

When Lepidus finally died in 13 BCE, Augustus finally accepted the title of Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest of Rome. It gave him the responsibility for the entire Roman state cult. Only emperors would hold that role until Rome fell and the pope took the title In the 15th century, when the Renaissance stirred up…

Augustus brought better roads, wine and a taste for the nicer things in life to the Gauls. He also brought other aspects of Roman culture, like their religions, their amphitheatres, and he banned human sacrifices. But one of his appointees took advantage of the new Roman calendar. For that, he is the first recipient of…

Augustus goes back to Gaul and brings his stepsons, Drusus and Tiberius, to help conquer the hilltop tribes in the Swiss Alps.

In 17 BCE Augustus decided to throw a huge party, The Secular Games, which was held only once every 110 years. Somehow this gets us talking about sex, animal sacrifices, holy trinities, Barabbas and Leviticus. Don’t ask me. I just work here. 

There’s a story about how Augustus dined one night with an old friend, Vedius Pollio, an equestrian known for his wealth, love of luxury, cruelty – and his pet lampreys.