Life of Augustus (Unabridged‪)‬

Nicolaus of Damascus was a Hellenized Jewish scholar who lived contemporaneously with Octavius and lived to see him become Caesar Augustus. The work itself takes us through young Octavius’ life and shows how he was carefully brought up and eventually adopted by his uncle, Julius Caesar. But what is remarkable about this short biography is the care and detail with which Nicolaus goes about in describing the plot and assassination of Caesar. The aftermath of Caesar’s murder is explained quite clearly as Octavian steps up to claim his uncle’s inheritance. 

Apparently, the complete biography is missing, as it ends just before the final break with Mark Antony. What remains, though, is a masterpiece of ancient biography by a man who was an eye-witness to the events.