The Battle of Actium was a major naval engagement that took place on September 2,<hr>
31 BC, during the final civil war of the Roman Republic that followed the<hr>
assassination of Julius Caesar. It occurred near Actium, on the western coast of Greece,<hr>
in the Ambracian Gulf, north of the island of Leucas.<hr>
       Octavian, also known in history as Augustus, is the first Roman emperor,<hr>
from January 16, 27 BC to August 19, 14 AD. He assumed power upon the departure of<hr>
Mark Antony.<hr>
       Hercules, born Alcides, son of Zeus, father of the Greek gods, and of Alcmene,<hr>
a mortal woman, was one of the most revered heroes of ancient Greece. He is particularly known<hr>
for his strength and bravery.<hr>
       Venus is the goddess of love, seduction, and feminine beauty in<hr>
Roman mythology. Quite early, she was equated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite. She is most<hr>
often depicted naked.<hr>
       Alexander the Great, born July 21, 356 BC in Pella, capital of Macedonia, and<hr>
died June 11, 323 BC in Babylon, was a king of Macedonia, a state north of Greece, and<hr>
one of the most famous figures of antiquity for his conquests and victories.<hr>
       The Battle of Pharsalus took place in Thessaly, a region south of Mount Olympus,<hr>
in the early summer of 48 BC during the Roman civil war. It<hr>
pitted Caesar's forces against those of Pompey. By winning this battle with vastly<hr>
inferior numbers, Julius Caesar secured a decisive advantage over the opposing side.<hr>
       Cassius was a general and politician in the late Roman Empire. He was notably involved<hr>
in the assassination of Julius Caesar and fled to Syria after confronting Mark Antony.<hr>
       Brutus was a senator, jurist, and Roman philosopher, son of Julius Caesar. He was involved in<hr>
the assassination of the latter. He was subsequently pursued by Mark Antony.<hr>
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                 Fourth speech - Sisygambis to Alexander<hr>
                                               Setting<hr>
                                Sisygambis, mother of Darius<hr>
       Following the conquest of India, Alexander the Great married Stateira, one of Darius'<hr>
daughters. It was at this time that Sisygambis, grandmother of this princess, rejoiced and was<hr>
carried away by the affection she felt for this conqueror. On this occasion, she remembered<hr>
all that he had done for her, and because her heart was marked by generosity, she<hr>
expressed her gratitude in this way.<hr>
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