- cross-posted to:
- historymemes@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- historymemes@lemmy.world
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Explanation: Octavian, later the Emperor Augustus, had a tendency to miss or be out of command for major battles. He was a sickly lil’ guy and usually wore a sunhat when outside. During one of the final battles of Julius Caesar’s civil war, he was too sick to attend (I am sure he had a doctor’s note). During one of the most important naval battles of his life, the Battle of Naulochus, he sent his right-hand man and best friend, Agrippa, to fight while he remained on shore.
Later, he personally intervened to spend an enormous sum on a raven that could say “Hail Caesar!” Which, tbf, is pretty fuckin’ cool.
Always giving us the context might be the coolest thing since Pliny the Elder live-tweeted the eruption of Vesuvius. Thanks.
“Captain says we’re gonna die. I say audentes fortuna iuvat! #YOLO!” - Last tweet of Pliny the Elder
“I wish I didn’t have homework so I could’ve gone with my uncle to check out the volcano! He’s so cool!” - Same-day tweet of his nephew Pliny the Younger
I don’t know why we always use ‘the elder’ and ‘the younger’ for all these guys (see also Cato or Pitt*) and not ‘the elder’ and ‘the lame loser’ instead.
* I might be French, sorry for the offense caused
Pliny the Elder: Statesman, scholar, wrote the first encyclopedia, traveled the Empire, died saving one of his friends from certain doom from a literal volcano
Pliny the Lame Loser: Was a governor, had some letters where he sucks up to the Emperor or something, idk
(unironically Pliny the Younger’s letters are supremely interesting, but it’s hard to live up to his uncle’s legacy!)
Both Catos sound like dicks, though.
100%, fuck the Catos
