Publius Vedius Pollio

Of libertine background, Pollio held the rank of knight and, starting from the Battle of Azio, he obtained so many offices in Asia that made him very rich but also very controversial due to ill reputation that Cicero imputed him with. An important supporter of Octavian Augustus, Pollio remained faithful by leaving him the immense fortune although O. Augustus soon repudiated their relationship. Cassius Dio Cocceianus, as well as Seneca and Pliny, all report the break that took place between O. Augustus and Pollio. They narrate how, in the Pausilypon villa, Augustus saved the cupbearer from being given as food to the eels for having broken a valuable little murrhine glass. He then humiliated Pollio by ordering him, under his incredulous eyes, to shatter the whole collection of crystals.