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== Octavian as a Child ==

== Octavian as a Child ==

[[Image:397px-Statue-Augustus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The statue of Augustus Caesar, ''[[Augustus of the Prima Porta]].'' Discussed extensively in Zanker's text (cited ''infra''), the statue exemplifies Augustus' shift towards a Greek-influenced portraiture.]]The man who would later become Augustus was born as Octavian of the [[Julii]], an extremely ancient Roman family<BR> of [[patrician]]s.  The Julii were, despite their nobility, fairly unknown before [[Julius Caesar]] revived the fame of the clan,<BR> and were also fairly poor, despite their claim to direct descent from the goddess [[Venus]].  During his childhood<BR> Octavian was educated in Greek [[philosophy]] in [[Athens]].  His mother was [[Atia]], and he had a sister, [[Octavia]].

[[Image:397px-Statue-Augustus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The statue of Augustus Caesar, ''[[Augustus of the Prima Porta]].'' Discussed extensively in Zanker's text (cited ''infra''), the statue exemplifies Augustus' shift towards a Greek-influenced portraiture.]]The man who would later become Augustus was born as Octavian of the [[Julii]], an extremely ancient Roman family of [[patrician]]s.  The Julii were, despite their nobility, fairly unknown before [[Julius Caesar]] revived the fame of the clan, and were also fairly poor, despite their claim to direct descent from the goddess [[Venus]].  During his childhood Octavian was educated in Greek [[philosophy]] in [[Athens]].  His mother was [[Atia]], and he had a sister, [[Octavia]].

In Greece, and in Rome, Octavian gained two friends who would remain with him for his professional life: [[Myceneas]],<BR> and Marcus Vipsanius [[Agrippa]].  The three were fast friends, especially in adolescence.

In Greece, and in Rome, Octavian gained two friends who would remain with him for his professional life: [[Myceneas]], and Marcus Vipsanius [[Agrippa]].  The three were fast friends, especially in adolescence.

Octavian’s fortunes changed when, upon the death of his uncle Julius Caesar, Caesar’s will was read, naming Octavian as his son-by-posthumous-adoption, not an uncommon practice in ancient [[Rome]].  Caesar had also left Octavian the duty of disbursing nearly all of the money he had accumulated to every [[plebian]] citizen in Rome.

Octavian’s fortunes changed when, upon the death of his uncle Julius Caesar, Caesar’s will was read, naming Octavian as his son-by-posthumous-adoption, not an uncommon practice in ancient [[Rome]].  Caesar had also left Octavian the duty of disbursing nearly all of the money he had accumulated to every [[plebian]] citizen in Rome.