TO: Cultural Lesson - What's in a Name?

Image: a portrait bust of Augustus as a young man. What's in a Name?

As Pseudolus and Selene contemplated the events of their arrival in Rome, they focused on two major events: the end of the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE and the triumph of Octavian in 29 BCE. Pseudolus remembered clearly the terror on the faces of the children, while Selene remembered how much time she spent thinking about one name: Octavian, the man now known as Emperor Augustus.

Augustus actually had more than one name during his lifetime. As his power grew, and he gained new titles, his name changed over the years.

Video Lesson

Please view the presentation below to learn more about how Octavius became Augustus.

Download a copy of the video transcript. Links to an external site.