Augustus
27 B.C. - 14 A.D.Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus
Busts, Statues, Coins, Information, Maps, Images, and More
"Octavian"
27 years before Jesus Christ was born, the Senate of Rome bestowed upon Octavian the title Augustus. Augustus became the first "Emperor", which comes from the military title imperator. In actuality he became no more than first senator, but he skillfully combined within himself all the powers of consul, tribune, and other offices, and he really had no rival.
Augustus was also shrewd in that he directly controlled the strongest military provinces. He was smart enough to avoid Julius Caesar's mistake which was to oppose the senators. Augustus brought a great Roman peace (Pox Romana) which extended all the way to the Danube River and the Black Sea.
Augustus was clearly the greatest Emperor in all of Roman history, and the title "Father of his country" was well-deserved. He made many wise and clear decisions throughout the provinces, boasting that he had transformed Rome "from a city of brick into a city of marble."
Augustus was very religious, as celebrated in the famous Altar of Peace in the city of Rome. He restored as many as 80 temples, he attempted to regulate morals, and he even banished his own daughter Julia for her immorality. He encouraged marriage and childbearing and he even used legislation to do so. In fact according to his census records the number of Roman citizens grew from 4,000,000 in eight BC to 5,000,000 in 14 A.D.
It was during a time of great peace in the reign of Augustus that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. He would have been born in Nazareth, the home of his parents Joseph and Mary, had it not been for the census ordered by Augustus, requiring all adults to register at their ancestral home towns.
Augustus Busts and Statues
1. Bronze statue of Augustus
 The
First Emperor of The Roman Empire's bronze statue can be
found at Archeological Museum of Athens. They house a
marvelous collection of artifacts from Greek antiquity
worldwide. |
2. Marble Bust of Emperor Augustus This
sympathetic look of Emperor Augustus can be found at
Department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities. This is
a Borghese Collection whose artist is unknown. |
3. Young Augustus Although
he was known to be ruthless during his early years, this
bust marble depicts a kind look of the young Augustus
contrary to what his images was as a young man. The 11.2
inch bust is located at the Louvre's Department of Greek,
Etruscan and Roman Antiquities. |
4. Prima Porta-type Bust of Augustus The
amazing marble statue dates back to 1st Century AD from
Gigthis, Tunisia. |
5. Bust of Emperor Augustus
 Roman-Germanic
Museum in Cologne, Germany has a vast collection of
archeological ruin. Among this collection is the bust of
Augustus which dates from the 1st half of the 1st century.
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6. Augustus "BEVILACQUA" This
wonderful piece of art depicting the Emperor Augustus shows
him wearing the Civic Crown or commonly known as the "Corona
Civica". It had the most valued honors among the Ancient
Romans. |
7. Younger Octavian The
sculpture which dates back to around 30 BC is located at the
Museo Capitolino of Rome, Italy. It portrays a younger
Octavian. |
8. Bronze Bust of Augustus This
fine-looking Roman Art of Augustus was made in bronze. It
was found in Meroe in Nubia (today Sudan) and is currently
on display at Upper floor, room 70: Roman Empire.
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9. Bust of Innocent look of Augustus It
portrays a young Augustus with his innocent look. The bust
of Augustus was found at Meroe in Nubia (modern Sudan). It
is made of bronze and on display at Upper floor, room 70:
Roman Empire. |
10. Augustus Bust after his Death It's
a beautiful marble made artwork of Augustus dates back to 14
AD, probably after his death. The British Museum keeps this
marvelous piece together with other collection of world art
and artifacts. |
11. Portrait Sketch of Augustus The
sketch is from the History of the World, H.F. Helmolt (ed.),
New York, 1901 and copied from the University of Texas. This
is Augustus wearing his breastplate in which the symbol
indicates all his achievement for prosperity and peace for
the Roman Empire. |
12. Augustus as Pontifex Maximus Augustus
as Pontifex Maximus was found in Via Labicana. Pontifex
Maximus was the head of the state religion of Rome. It's in
display at National Museum Rome. |
13. Augustus wearing a Toga Toga
was the national garment of Rome and only male citizens were
allowed to wear the toga. The back of the toga was pulled
over the head during religious ceremony as in this marble
statue of Augustus as High Priest (pontifex maximus). Dated
17th century (from 2nd century body and 1st century head)
and can be seen at Museo del Prado. |
14. Augustus in his War Dress This
Augustus in Prima Porta is on display at the Vatican Museum,
Rome. It is one of the many statues that were erected
throughout the empire during his reign. Every detail from
head to toe symbolizes everything about his character and
achievement. |
15. Augustus of Prima Porta Copy This
statue is just a copy of the Augustus of Prima Porta.
Although this picture does not include the lower part of
Augustus, the upper body including his right hand gives us
more information about his character as a ruler. This statue
gives the audience an impression of Augustus as the powerful
ruler of Rome. |
16. Augustus as Ruler of Rome A
half-body picture of Augustus depicts him as the most
powerful ruler of Rome according to his right hand gesture.
It's a replica of Prima Porta Statue of Rome. His face also
renders the youthful look of the emperor despite his age of
40 when this statue was constructed. |
17. Caesar Augustus in his Toga Suetonius,
a Historian to Emperor Hadrian describes Augustus as
"remarkably handsome and of very graceful gait even as an
old man; but negligent of his personal appearance...body and
limbs so beautifully proportioned..." This picture agrees to
his descriptions. This can be seen at Department of Greek,
Etruscan and Roman antiquities |
18. Augustus as High Priest of the
Ancient Roman It's
a Roman artwork of the late Augustan period. This statue is
Augustus as Pontifex Maximus or the High Priest of the
Ancient Roman College of Pontiffs. He is wearing a toga,
with back pulled over the head and a calcei patricii, boots
for Roman Nobles. |
19. Via Labicana Augustus Emperor
Augustus is shown as Pontifex Maximus, it's a Roman artwork
of the late Augustan period. This close-up portrait of
Augustus shows his eyes that is described in the writings of
Suetonius who said, "Augustus's eyes were clear and bright
and he liked to believe that they shone with a sort of
divine radiance: it gave him profound pleasure if anyone at
whom he glanced keenly dropped his head as though dazzled by
looking into the sun." |
20. Benevolent Look of Augustus The
statue of Augustus is available for viewing at Museo
Pio-Clementino, Sala Rotunda. His eyes show compassion to
his people. He is wearing a toga with back pulled over to
the head during religious ceremonies. |
21. A Cult Statue of the Deified
Augustus The
disfigured statue of Augustus is on display at Ephesus
museum in Selcuk, Turkey. It was believed that Worship of
Emperor began even during the lifetime of Octavian. |
22. Bronze Equestrian Statue of
Augustus This
is the only preserved life-size equestrian statue of
Augustus. It was recovered from the sea, in the area between
Euboea and the Island of Aghios Eustratios. It dates back to
the end of the 1st Century BC and can be seen at the
National Archaeological Museum, Athens. |
23. Augustus Wall Relief at Temple in
Egypt Kalabasha
Temple was built by Emperor Augustus, and this is the
largest free-standing temple of Egyptian Nubia. The photo is
represented with a stone carving of Augustus depicted in
Egyptian style. |
24. Heroic Statue of the Roman General This
marble made statue is a representation of Octavius, a Heroic
Roman General. The head does not belong to the statue. It is
available for viewing at the Louvre's Department of Greek,
Etruscan and Roman Antiquities. |
Augustus Coins
| 1.
Anthony with Octavian
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| 2. Bronze coin of Augustus
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3. Augustus: PATER PATRIAE Lyons mint 2 BC - ca 13 AD, with wreathed head of Augustus, surrounded with words, "CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE". |
| 4. Roman Coin: Augustus
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| 5. Augustus Coin with Capricorn
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| 6. Ephesus Mint of Augustus Coin
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| 7. Head of Augustus with Shield
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| 8. Augustus with Agrippa
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| 9. Augustus and Agrippa with Crown
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| 10.
Augustus and Agrippa Back to Back
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| 11.
Augustus with Victory
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| 12.
Augustus and Tiberius
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| 13.
Augustus and Victory
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