Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa Biography

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was a Roman commander and consul. He was an adept statesman, loyal friend and confidant to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, better known as Augustus. He has been credited with the construction of several iconic buildings in Rome. He was a prominent figure in helping Augustus attain power and ushering in the era of the Roman Empire. He led several successful battles for Augustus. His most notable triumph was in the 'Battle of Actium' against the armies of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Consequently, Octavianus was crowned as the first Emperor of Rome and assumed the imperial name, Augustus. Agrippa played a key role in making Rome “a city of marble.” He took it upon himself to renovate and reconstruct the landscape of Rome, issuing the construction of public baths, gardens, and porches that contributed in making the city an aesthetic delight. He wanted to provide proper facilities to people from every social class and thus commissioned the expansion of aqueducts and pipelines throughout the city. He is also believed to have built the original Roman Pantheon. Agrippa fashioned himself as a writer on geographical subjects. He supervised a survey across Rome in order to realize Julius Caesar’s dream.