Augustus Quote by Neil MacGregor
““After his death, Augustus was declared a god by the Senate, to be worshipped by the Romans. His titles Augustus and Caesar were adopted by every subsequent emperor, and the month of Sextilius was officially renamed August in his honour.””
About This Quote
Source History: Roman Empire, Augustus Caesar, 27 BC–AD 14
Augustus was deified after death, his name became a title for emperors, and the month August honors him.
In simple terms: Augustus became a god, his name a title, month renamed.
Key Takeaway
Recognize lasting impact of leaders.
Themes
history
leadership
legacy
Mood
reflective
instructive
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- political speeches
- historical education
- cultural heritage
- museum curation
Key Concepts
Roman deification
imperial titulature
calendar reform
Questions to Reflect On
- How does deification shape political authority?
- What modern parallels exist for naming institutions after leaders?
A Different Perspective
Historical narratives can mythologize figures, obscuring complexities.
![“Luke [the gospel writer] screws up his dating by tactlessly mentioning events that historians are capable of independently checking. There was indeed a census under Governor Quirinius - a local census, not one decreed by Caesar Augustus for the Empire as a whole - but it happened too late in 6 AD…” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5d9/richard-dawkins-115_ads_luke-the-gospel-writer-screws-up-his-dat_1114686.jpg)
![“He [Caesar Augustus] found a city built of brick; he left it built of marble. [Lat., Urbem lateritiam accepit, mamoream relinquit.]” quote by Suetonius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fc9/suetonius-25582_augustus_he-caesar-augustus-found-a-city-built-of_210926.jpg)
