Augustus Caesar

Augustus was born September 23, 63 BC as Gaius Octavius. He was called Octavian, the son of a Roman Senator and Atia, the niece of Julius Caesar. According to �The Twelve Caesars� by Seutoneus, after his death, Julius Caesar was formally declared a God, and the acceptance of this fact was unanimous after �a comet appeared about an hour before sunset and shone for seven days running. This was held to be Caesar�s soul, elevated to Heaven.� When Julius Caesar was declared a God, this was also an elevation of status for the young Octavian Caesar, who was later bestowed the title of �Augustus� (meaning, revered personage). With his new name, Caesar Augustus, Rome had in its midst the first officiated emperor, whose legacy of power was said to have �found Rome brick, and left it marble.� Caius and Lucius Caesars were the sons of Agrippa, whom Augustus had chosen as a successor; however, the path of history tells a different fate for the Empire, and Augustus is followed by Emperor Tiberius Caesar.