Monumentum Ancyranum: The Deeds of Augustus

Chapter 18: c. 3.

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About This Book

The text presents a first-person funerary inscription offering an official summary of a ruler's public life, listing offices held, military and diplomatic actions, legislative measures, public benefactions, and building projects. This edition reproduces the original Latin text alongside a Greek translation and an English rendering, and it includes a historical introduction recounting the inscription's discovery and transmission. Philological notes, textual variants, and a bibliography accompany the texts, with the Greek often supplying readings where the Latin is damaged and the commentary explaining emendations and interpretive choices for students and scholars.

c. 3.

I undertook civil and foreign wars by land and sea throughout the whole world, and as victor I showed mercy to all surviving citizens.17 Foreign peoples, who could be pardoned with safety, I preferred to preserve rather than to destroy. About five hundred thousand Roman citizens took the military oath of allegiance to me.18 Of these I have settled in colonies or sent back to their municipia,19 upon the expiration of their terms of service,20 somewhat over three hundred thousand, and to all these I have given lands purchased by me, or money for farms,21 out of my own means. I have captured six hundred ships, besides those which were smaller than triremes.22