Near the altar of the Victory Monument archaeologists discovered two pedestals. One was used (perhaps) for a statue that we know of from a story narrated by the ancient writer Plutarch. On the day of the battle Augustus came out of his tent in the early morning and saw a peasant with his donkey. He asked the man his name, and he replied: "My name is Prosper, and my ass's name is Victor." Octavian viewed this coincidence as particularly auspicious, a message directly from the gods. After the battle and his triumph, he ordered that bronze figures of an ass and a man be set up.