And in fact it could be said, if Septimius Severus were to boast, as Augustus had before him, that he had transformed the city of Leptis Magna – instead of saying, as Augustus did, that he found Rome a city of brick and left Rome a city of marble, Septimius Severus might have said he found Leptis Magna a city of local limestone and left Leptis Magna a city of imported marble.
Instead of a legate or proconsul, Augustus installed a prefect from the equestrian class to administer Egypt and maintain its lucrative seaports; this position became the highest political achievement for any equestrian besides becoming Prefect of the Praetorian Guard.
That's right – Augustus Gloop (the great, fat, greedy nincompoop!) But what about… In Roald Dahl's first version of the story, she also fell in the chocolate river after disobeying Mr Wonka's instructions and went up a pipe too – but to the chocolate-covered Peanut Brittle Room instead of the Chocolate Fudge Room like Augustus Pottle.
Instead the body of the emperor was cremated and his ashes were quietly laid in the Mausoleum of Augustus, later to be scattered in 410 during the Sack of Rome.
Instead of meeting this opposition with suavity, as Augustus had, Caligula turned a withering, bitter sarcasm on Rome's aristocracy, and was intent on humiliating them and reminding them of their servitude.
He was buried in the mausoleum of Augustus, and Augustus himself pronounced the funeral oration.
"Pliny's Cup: Roman Silver in the Age of Augustus".
John Woolf's portrait of a marble statue, "Head of Augustus".
There are samples of Augustus John, Walter Richard Sickert, James Pryde, Sir William Rothenstein, Wyndham Lewis and Whistler.
But he reminds us of Augustus' charm and humanity too.
