Monumentum Ancyranum

Note 136 — Below is a copy of the deeds of the divine Augustus, by which he subjected the whole world to the dominion of the Roman people, and of the amounts which he expended upon the commonwealth and the Roman people, as engraved upon two brazen columns which are set up at Rome.1

Reading edition

The standards had been lost by Crassus and Antony. Cf. Justin, XLII, 5, 11; Livy, Epit., CXLI; Suetonius, Aug. 21; Vell., II, 91; Vergil, Æn. VII, 606; Horace, Carm., I, 12, 56; III, 5, 4; Dio, LIII, 33; LIV, 8; Cass. Chron. ad. 734; Oros., VI, 21; Florus IV, 12; Eutropius, VII, 9. One detachment of Antonius’ army, under L. Decidius Saxa, was exterminated in 714, and another in 718 under Oppius Statianus. Cf. Livy, Ep. CXXI; Dio, XLVIII, 24.

Tiberius received the standards from the Parthians in 734. Cf. Dio, LIV, 8, etc.; Suet. Tib. 9. Eckhel, VI, 95, shows a coin with a Parthian on bended knee presenting a standard to Augustus. Cf. also Horace, Epis., I, 12, 27; Oros., VI, 21, 29; and c. 32 of the inscription.

There were two temples of Mars Ultor, a smaller one on the Capitoline, and a larger in the forum, dedicated in 752. The standards were removed to the larger temple. Cf. Dio, LV, 10; Horace, Carm., IV, 5, 16; Epis., I, 18, 56; Propertius, III, 10, 3; Ovid, Trist. II, 295; Fasti, V, 549; VI, 459.

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