Appian of Alexandria was a Greek historian with Roman citizenship who prospered during the reigns of Emperors of Rome Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius.
A page of the Latin translation of Appian’s "Roman History" by Pier Candido Decembrio, with imaginary portrait of the historian
Appian: Historia Romana. Printed in Venice 1477 by Erhard Ratdolt
Painting by Eugenio Oliva depicting the Vaccaei going out to defend Palencia from the troops of Lucius Licinius Lucullus in 151 BC. The historian Appian is depicted at right recording events; this is a poetic fiction, as Appian was writing from a standpoint three centuries in the future.
The Roman emperor was the ruler and monarchical head of state of the Roman Empire, starting with the granting of the title augustus to Octavian in 27 BC. The term "emperor" is a modern convention, and did not exist as such during the Empire. Often when a given Roman is described as becoming emperor in English, it reflects his taking of the title augustus and later basileus. Another title used was imperator, originally a military honorific, and caesar, originally a surname. Early emperors also used the title princeps alongside other Republican titles, notably consul and pontifex maximus.
Bust of Augustus wearing the corona civica
Augustus depicted as a magistrate at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Cameo of Augustus in a quadriga drawn by tritons at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Denarius of Augustus (18 BC).
