On the sidewalk in front of Foro di Augusto (the Forum of Augustus) stands a statue of the person known as the first emperor of the Roman Empire (27BC - 14AD), who was born Gaius Octavius in 63BC. Though he was definitely the military dictator he referred to himself as Princeps Civitatis ("First Citizen of the State"). Augustus planned the forum to be named after himself and to also house the Temple to Mars Ultor, the Roman God of War. What stands today As ruins go, these definitely qualify. Gone are many of the statues and busts that had been created to tie Augustus through his ancestry to many he honored in the Forum. One can only imagine the spectacle of this Forum during its prime. read more