The skin of Octavian Augustus was said to have many birthmarks; Suetonius even claims that they were arranged on the back and belly in the constellation of Ursa Major. In addition, Emperor August was terrified of storms and lightning.
One day, Emperor Augustus tried his hand at writing a tragedy – it was to be called “Ajax”. When he lacked inspiration and friends asked how the work was progressing, he replied – “Ajax had fallen on his sponge”. It was a reference to the suicide of Ajax, the hero of the Iliad, who pierced himself with a sword.
