![]() Octavian biggest challenge was to consolidate power in a way that would avoid his assassination. To learn some behaviors to avoid, he looked to the negative model of his immediate predecessor, Julius Caesar, who had been in a similar position of one-man rule. The greatest challenge now facing Octavian was how to permanently consolidate power in a way that would be palatable to the Romans. In his speech, Octavian was known to employ several unusual expressions, such as “quicker than asparagus can be cooked,” to mean doing something quickly, or “Let us be content with this Cato,” to mean to be satisfied with what one currently has.Įven the all-powerful ruler of the Roman world fretted about his appearance, had ordinary hobbies, and possessed idiosyncratic mannerisms. Conversely, if he accidentally put his right foot into his left shoe when getting out of bed in the morning, he viewed it as a bad omen. He believed that if he started a long journey in light rain, this would guarantee a speedy return. He was a superstitious man, always carrying around on his body a piece of seal skin as a magic amulet that would protect him from thunderstorms. At the time, these were thought to be the remains of giants and mythological monsters. He enjoyed collecting rarities and possessed an assemblage of dinosaur bones. He preferred to eat modest, simple foods, and dressed in unostentatious clothes sewn by the female members of his family. What of his habits? We know that Octavian took great pleasure in gambling and dice games, but was an abstemious drinker, rarely having more than three cups of water mixed with wine at dinner. In old age, his teeth became badly decayed and he lost many of them. He was plagued throughout his life by a sickly constitution, and he suffered from recurrent kidney stones. This is a transcript from the video series The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome. The hair on his head was yellowish and curly, and his eyebrows met above his nose, giving him a unibrow. Although his body was well-proportioned, at less than 5 foot 7 inches tall, he was self-conscious about his height.īecause of this, Octavian habitually wore sandals that were constructed with extra-thick soles to make himself appear taller. Some specific details survive regarding his appearance. Let’s consider what is known about Octavian the man. When studying renowned figures, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that they were also human beings by focusing on impressive achievements. ![]() Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, the man who defeated all rivals to become the sole ruler of the Roman world, and went on to become the first Roman emperor under the name Augustus, is certainly one of the most important and influential people in all of Roman history. (Image: Unknown/Public domain) Getting to Know Octavian the Man By Gregory Aldrete, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Green Bay Octavian’s reign was focused on consolidating power while at the same time maintaining the illusion that he did not have the absolute control that characterized a monarchy.
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