[-7-] Augustus after settling various affairs in Sicily and making Syracuse together with certain other cities Roman colonies crossed over into Greece.  The Lacedaemonians he honored by giving them Cythera and attending their Public Mess, because Livia, when she fled from Italy with her husband and son, passed some time there.  From the Athenians, as some say, he took away AEgina and Eretria, the produce of which they were enjoying, because they had espoused the cause of Antony.  Moreover he forbade them to make any one a citizen for money.  It seemed to them that what happened to the statue of Athena had tended to their misfortune.  Placed on the Acropolis facing the east it had turned about to the west and spat blood.

[ B.C. 20 (a. u. 734)]

As for Augustus, after setting the Greek world in order, he sailed to Samos, passed the winter there, and in the spring when Marcus Apuleius and Publius Silius became consuls proceeded to Asia and gave his attention to matters there and in Bithynia.  Though these and the foregoing provinces were regarded as belonging to the people, he did not make light of them, but accorded them the very best of care, as if they were his own.  He instituted all reforms that seemed desirable and made a present of money to some, while others he instructed to collect an amount in excess of the tribute.  The people of Cyzicus he reduced to slavery because during an uprising they had flogged and put to death some Romans.  And when he reached Syria he took the same action in the case of the people of Tyre and Sidon on account of their uprising.

[-8-] Meanwhile Phraates, fearing that he might lead an expedition against him because as yet none of the agreements had been carried out, sent back to him the standards and all the captives, save a few who in shame had destroyed themselves or by eluding detection had remained in the country.  Augustus received them with the appearance of having conquered the Parthian in some war.  He took great pride in the event, saying that what had been lost in former battles he had recovered without a struggle.  Indeed, in honor of his success he both commanded sacrifices to be voted and performed them, besides constructing a temple of Mars Ultor on the Capitol, in imitation of Jupiter Feretrius, for the offering up of the standards.  Moreover he rode into the City on a charger and was with an arch carrying a trophy.  That was what was done later in commemoration of the event.  At this time he was chosen commissioner of the highways round about Rome, set up the so-called golden milestone, and assigned road-builders from the ranks of the ex-praetors, with two lictors, to take care of the various streets.  Julia also gave birth to a child, who received the name Gaius; and a sacrifice of kine was permitted forever upon his birthday.  Now this was done, like everything else, in pursuance of a decree:  privately the aediles had a horse-race and slaughter of wild beasts on the birthday of Augustus.—­These were the occurrences in the City.