Portraits of Augustus and Livia from Neuilly-le-Réal, France

This must be the oldest-looking Augustus I've ever seen. He has wrinkles! If you squint he could be downright forty-ish. What happened here. Where is the youthful not a day over thirty Augustus?

Matthew McNulty in Domina (s2) as Gaius

Inspired by @just-late-roman-republic-things' lists like this. XD I love them so much I had to try one.

The way ancient politicians escape a corn maze.

Octavian: He has scouted the route in advance and plotted a course. When he gets lost, he follows Agrippa out and takes the credit.

Agrippa: Literally the only one who finds his way out easily and on his own. He was never lost.

Mark Antony: He makes his way through somehow despite not planning a path. If he hits a dead end, he just pushes through the corn. At least once he hides in the corn and jump-scares Octavian to make him scream.

Lepidus: He entered the maze, but no one saw him exit. No one searches for him. Octavian says he made it home and Antony agrees. The fact they agree on this is concerning...

Cicero: He solves the layout immediately but then second guesses himself. As he walks, he audibly describes his thought process, pausing at every turn. Everyone behind him is in agony.

Dolabella: He sets the maze on fire after he finds out he still owes the entry fee and they won't waive it. He tries to blame Mark Antony.

Julius Caesar: He sends flunkies through to scout the maze for him and follows after they give him a map. He is dubbed the first to navigate the maze successfully.

Pompey: He gets lost on his own so he bribes someone to lead him out and after he exits, calls anyone else who had assistance to escape a cheater.

Crassus: He bought an aerial view of the maze beforehand and uses this to get out successfully. After Dolabella sets the maze on fire, he tries to sell the owner insurance.

Brutus: He navigates the maze successfully after he bands together with Cassius and essentially follows his friend out of the maze. Somehow he's the one who gets all the credit.

i hate his guts and i am glad hes dead!!!

DADDY.

thinking about changing my middle name t something stupid bc noone can stop me

I could maybe forgive Caesar for his life if it wasn't for what happened after his death! Hoebag literally screwed everyone over.

Didn't acknowledge Caesarion as his heir. Didn't even mention Antony at all. And saddled the world with the nightmare that was a young Octavian who now had clout. If he hadn't promoted that bloodthirsty twirp by making him his heir I could almost forgive him for the things he did in his life.

Hi my name is Imperator Gaius Octavius Thurinus Julius Caesar Octavianus Augustus and my great uncle got assassinated and put me in his will (that’s how I got my name) and I’m unusually handsome and exceedingly graceful and a lot of people tell me I look like my great uncle Julius Caesar (AN: if u don’t know who he is get da hell out of here!). I’m not related to Aeneas but I wish I was because he’s a major fucking hottie. I’m a vampire but my teeth are wide apart and small and ill-kept. I have pale white skin. I’m also a princeps, and I rule over a “”republic”” called Rome in Italy (I’m NOT a king or anything). I’m very sickly (in case you couldn’t tell) and I wear mostly togae. I love my family members and they make all my clothes for me. For example today I was wearing an off-white toga with a purple stripe neither narrow nor broad, and high-soled shoes to make me look taller. I was walking outside the forum with my best pal Marcus Agrippa. It was snowing and raining so there was no sun, which I was very happy about because I cannot endure the sun even in winter. Mark Antony stared at me. I put up my middle finger at him.

TOM GLYNN-CARNEY as young Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus in DOMINA (1x02)  

Matthew McNulty in Domina (s2) as Gaius

Ancient Romans as Novelty T-Shirts from a Magazine

Caesar: Let's assume I'm right, it'll save time.

Octavian: I may be wrong, but it's highly unlikely.

(Like father like son, adopted or not.)

Agrippa: I'm not bossy. I'm aggressively helpful.

Antony: Admit it...life would be so boring without me.

(Bonus was "Anthony's Beer Removal Service. Pints. Pitchers. Kegs . No job too big or too small" which admittedly is spelled wrong but was close enough to make me laugh)

Lepidus: I'm just here for the leftovers.

Dolabella: How to Handle Stress Like a Dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, then pee on it and walk away.

Cicero: Don't worry I CAN FIX IT.

(Meaning the Republic...)

Cato: Yes, I know they pick on you at school and call you names, but you still have to go, you're the teacher!

Catiline: Just be happy I'm not a twin.

If you saw someone do this, let me know and I'll credit them. I legitimately got a magazine with those shirts in it today and picked from there, but I think I've seen this style meme before. I have seen too many Roman memes at this point 😂 I would guess @just-late-roman-republic-things or @theromaboo if there has been one! If not, they inspired me to let out my classical humanities nerdism anyway! (As well as @greekmythcomix and her chickens.

TOM GLYNN-CARNEY as young Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus in DOMINA

Livia Drusilla & Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus + holding hands

Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus,,,,!!!!! ….. How often do you think about the Roman Empire?

I… quite often? I do run it.

Since March is idling its way towards the Ides, I hope I can get away with pimping my Galex Roman Emperor AU fic where George is modelled on old Gaius Julius Caesar* himself.

(I'm trying real hard not to be self-deprecating about it, but I made the header myself and ooooh boy it was a journey in learning to hate Canva)

Featuring: knives! plots! dubious use of olive oil! way too much research!

Here's the start to prove I'm not totally insane:

George had cried at his first triumph. Alex had been too far ahead to see, crammed in with the other magistrates, but by the time George climbed the steps of the Capitoline temple, it had been obvious - pale gullies under his eyes where the red paint had washed down his face, dripped down his neck. He'd looked like he was bathed in blood even before he slit the bulls’ throats and offered them to Jupiter. He’d been shaking too. Alex had realised when he’d stepped close and they’d walked to the wooden scaffold to watch the legions march by. The crowds below had been screaming his name, worshipping their king-for-a-day, a roar of noise. The force of that much love seemed to hit George like a physical blow, over and over, so his shoulders twitched under the purple of his toga, under the solid weight of Alex’s hand. It had taken days for him to settle, turn his mind back to the tedium of daily life. Not so this time. George is not crying now. He does not shake. Lying on the couch of his private triclinium, he’s so still he could be dead, or sleeping, but for the warm glow of him, and the way his eyes, half-lidded, track Alex from the moment he enters the room.

He still has the laurels nestled in his curls, but he’s washed the paint from his face and the long line of his neck. Not Jupiter, then, but still a godling, a model for any sculptor at the temple of Apollo. The folds of his purple toga have fallen open, so Alex can see the way George’s knees are splayed, the soft gold of his inner thigh. “Alexander,” George calls, though his lips barely move. “Is the procession finally over?” This high on the Palatine, the drum beat of thousands of sandalled feet is harder to hear, almost indistinguishable from a heartbeat. Alex has to clear his throat twice before he’ll trust his voice. “It will be hours yet - the Sixth Legion are barely off the Field of Mars. But it will be over in time for the games.” He drops his scroll cases on the small table by the second couch, waits for George’s slow nod before he takes a seat. “I brought the grain counts from Libya and Egypt-” “Accounting? On the day of my triumph? You are a harsh master, Alexander, but I’ll take it.” “Your triumph was yesterday,” Alex says carefully, and George rewards him with a smile as slow as a snake.

Read Imperator here on AO3

*Okay, so, Gaius Julius Casear Octavianus, but it still counts

An essay on why Octavius from NATM is NOT Augustus

It is evident that I hate Augustus. However, hating Augustus does not mean I should support misinformation about Augustus. There are many characteristics that Octavius from NATM has that do not match up with Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Here's why I believe they are completely different people:

1-Appearance

First of all, let's compare their physical appearances. Augustus has been described by Suetonius as pale, dirty bllonde and blue/grey eyed. He was quite skinny and short, most likely due to his asthma preventing him from going out in his childhood and teenage years. While Octavius from NATM has dark hair, dark eyes and is well built. They don't look alike at all. I see no reason as to why the creators of NATM changed his appearance other than because 1. They are different people. or 2. NATM Octavius is a made-up ancient Roman. Of course, there may be other reasons such as Octavius' appearance not being important enough for them to do research on it but I insist that if he really were Augustus, he would not be a general at all.

2-Personality

Second of all, they have different personalities. NATM Octavius is stubborn, brave, a leader. Just your average roman general. Augustus, on the other hand, is not a man to be put on the battlefield. Augustus is said to have been completely disinterested by all things military and often fled the battlefield due to an affliction (sometimes stomach aches, sometimes asthma attacks). An example of this could be the battle of Philippi, when he fled into the marsh because he was feeling ill. He left his battles for his best friend Marcus Agrippa, who handled them with his outstanding military mind. NATM Octavius seems to have no problem with leading an army and fighting during the first movie. Another distinction between their personalities is their composure. Augustus is said to be strangely calm, no matter how bad the situation is while Octavius seems to get pretty hostile sometimes, like he did with Jedediah in the first movie.

3-Name

Third of all, their names don't exactly match. This is a very important thing, because there are many romans named "Octavius" and NATM Octavius could have been any other Octavius. Augustus' birth name was Gaius Octavius Thurinus, but he eventually changed his name to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, after finding out that Julius Caesar had adopted him and named him as hjs heir. Since then, this Roman politician has been referred to as "Julius Caesar". You may think that they called him Octavius to differentiate him with Julius Caesar but that is also wrong, because if they did change his name, they would change it to "Octavian", the name that historians used to call him before he was Augustus. They could've also used Augustus. There is nothing that really indicates that NATM Octavius is Octavian before Actium.

4-Agrippa

Because I love Agrippa, I will give him his own paragraph. NATM Octavius can do what Octavian/Augustus could not do : excel in the military domain. However, that is what Agrippa is for. Let's say Octavian learned strategies and logistics and becomes a good general. What the hell happened to Marcus Agrippa? Did he die from some illness? Perhaps gout? Did he betray Octavian? Where is he then? Is he safe? Is he alright? This paragraph is about Agrippa but Agrippa isn't Octavian's only companion. There is Taurus, another of Octavian generals. Maybe he wasn't important enough to be shown. But what about Livia? Octavian's wife? Where is she? At home? They don't really have one. Does she approve of his affair with Jedediah.? Maybe she listens to the album Be the Cowboy by Mitski because she is so sad that her husband is going on adventures and sleeping with a cowboy. What about Maecenas? What about the poets? What about Octavia? Marcellus?

The fandom doesn't acknowledge those people. However, you know which roman they remembered? Julia the elder. I was so mad when I found out you people draw them together, doing wholesome things. Augustus would never. Your fanfiction is super cute but it doesn't change what happened to Julia (TL ; DR for people who don't want to search it up : she got exiled because of Augustus' misogynistic policies against adultery (cheating)). NATM fans who mention what really happened to Julia, I like you and thank you.

Though this may be subjective, I believe that NATM Octavius is not Augustus because he does not have those essential allies that Augustus had.

Conclusion

NATM Octavius is not Augustus because he does not have the same physical appearance, qualities, names & titles, and friends as him. I don't understand why people believe that Octavius is Augustus when they only share a nationality and birth nomen (not even his real name). I'm not saying this because I want to hate on Augustus without hating on Octavius because I hate Octavius too.