Augustus, Tiberius, Galba, omen, divination, Tacitus, Dio, Suetonius, Josephus
Suetonius records that Augustus had predicted to the child Galba that he would taste imperial power, while Tacitus and Dio attribute a similar address to Tiberius. This paper argues that Augustus addressed Galba as Suetonius claims, but that he did not intend his words to be understood in the way that they were, as a prediction that Galba would rise to the throne, and that Tiberius was quoting Augustus when he addressed Galba in similar fashion to signify his belief that he had fulfilled the alleged ominous significance of Augustus’ words by his recent promotion of him.