Jackals of Samarra

In the early days of the Roman Empire, Augustus was keen to present himself as the head of the family, even receiving the title Pater Patriae in 2 BCE, whilst imperial power came to be inherited through the emperor's natural and adopted heirs. The notion of family was clearly central to the ideals and image that Augustus sought to promote, most particularly in his programme of social legislation designed to encourage greater numbers of Roman children.