Augustus Caesar
Augustus Caesar #81 – Tiberius' Triumph
Livia is the Melania Trump of Rome. Julia falls pregnant to Tiberius but the baby is stillborn, which is the beginning of the end for them. Tiberius crosses…
Augustus Caesar #80 – Slave Children Pets
We're back after a short break. To be fair, this episode started off pretty simple. But quickly it went to some pretty dark places. We're sorry. You might…
Augustus Caesar #79 – Drusus Breaks A Leg
10 BCE – Drusus barely escapes from Germany. Augustus celebrates his 52nd birthday. Octavia dies. Antonia gives birth to Tiberius Claudius Drusus – the future emperor Claudius. 9…
Augustus Caesar #78 – Drusus Goes Deep
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.…
Augustus Caesar #77 – Trump v Caesar
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…
Augustus Caesar #76 – Immortal Glory
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…
Augustus Caesar #75 – The Wind Beneath My Wings
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,…
Augustus Caesar #74 – Agrippa Dies
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…
Augustus Caesar #73 – Pope Augustus
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…
Augustus Caesar #72 – #DBAC
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,…
Augustus Caesar #71 – Drusus Goes Up The Aenus
Augustus goes back to Gaul and brings his stepsons, Drusus and Tiberius, to help conquer the hilltop tribes in the Swiss Alps. HOW TO LISTEN If you're seeing…
Augustus Caesar #70 – Fight For Your Right To Party
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,…
Augustus Caesar #69 – The Lamprey
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…
Augustus Caesar #68 – Mr Nice Guy
Augustus was a pretty approachable guy (like us!). We tell some stories about how he made himself readily available to everyone from Senators to the general public. And…
Augustus Caesar #67 – Julia The Elder
Julia the Elder, the only legitimate biological child of Augustus (which makes her the daughter of the son of god), was definitely hot stuff. She had what you…
Augustus Caesar #66 – Consilium Principis
In this episode, we're dealing with events around 18 BCE: The most important innovation Aug created around this time was his new small council, the consilium principis (advisers…
Augustus Caesar #64 – The Cunning Plan
Augustus returns to Rome and he comes up with a cunning plan. He also fires the entire Senate. And Cam finds out who Vanna White is. HOW TO…
Augustus Caesar #62 – Virgil & The Aeneid Part 3
Aeneas reflects Augustus in many ways – they both place duty and piety before their own comfort and interests. Both have to endure great hardships and struggles for…
Augustus Caesar #61 – Virgil & The Aeneid Part 2
It would be a mistake to see Virgil’s poetry as purely political propaganda. It was a matter of self-respect for Augustus to allow artists to do their art.…
Augustus Caesar #59 – The Last Triumph
Augustus does a deal with the Parthian King Phraates IV to return the standards and prisoners from their previous encounters with Crassus and Antony. And Lucius Cornelius Balbus…