Everybody Hates Caesar

“Caesar could not keep back tears, and he took care that the head was burned with many very costly perfumes.” This quote from ‘Lives of Illustrious Men’ shows Julius Caesar in a more sensitive way. Even though he was a very strong man, he still had emotions that could not be held back when Pompey died. It helps us to see that he was still a regular person with feelings like us even though he was powerful. “Subsequently, however, when he was riding in from the Alban Mount and some men again called him king, he said that his name was not “Rex” but Caesar; but when the same tribunes brought suit against the first man who had termed him king, he no longer restrained his wrath but showed great irritation, as if these very officials were really stirring up sedition against him.” Just like the previous quote, this quote from ‘Cassius Dio’ shows the human side of Caesar. The men kept trying to call him king after he repeatedly told them not to. This caused Caesar to get aggravated. This would happen to anyone who has been telling someone to stop doing something and they kept doing it.

I chose these passages because they show how even though Caesar was a strong and powerful man, he was just like any regular person reacting in natural ways. They give a different view of him and not just someone who hid their emotions to look more potent.

I was watching ‘Everybody Hates Chris’ and realized Chris’ father’s name is Julius. I looked it up and Chris Rock’s middle name is Christopher Julius Rock III while his father’s real name is Christopher Julius Rock II. The name ‘Julius’ derives from Julius Caesar and I think that the name was passed down through the Rock family. I mean his great great grandfather’s name was Julius Caesar Tinghman, so they probably wanted to keep the tradition. They could be trying to follow the way names were handled back in Julius Caesars’ time but I don’t think that their names are because of what was discussed in the quotes above.

– Ivory, Team Artemis

 

Caesar the pit bull.

• Lives of Illustrious Men (**GNAEUS POMPEIUS MAGNUS Experts)

“Caesar could not keep back tears, and he took care that the head was burned with many very costly perfumes.”

This was written to portray what had happened to Julius Caesar after Pompey’s death. He appears to be a soft hearted man who cried at the death of Pompey and very knowable for he took his head and burnt it with perfume, the best way possible.

• Cassius Dio (Book 44.7-20)

8. 4“hence most men suspected him of being inflated with pride and hated him for his haughtiness, when it was they themselves who had made him disdainful by the exaggerated character of their honours.”

In this quote it shows Julius Caesar as someone that is full of themselves and is swayed by others affection/attention.

I choose these quotes because they show two different sides of Julius Caesar. In the first one it makes Caesar look like a kind person that looks out for others. While in the second quote it looks as though he cares only about himself and his well being.

The image I took was of me and my dog, Caesar which is derived from the name Julius Caesar. I think he was named Caesar because Julius Caesar was a strong leader and emperor. Caesar is a blue nose which makes their structure look very big and muscular, which may come off scary, making him look strong.  

Unlike the first quote where Julius Caesar comes off as a softie my dog is an actually softie. He such a sweet dog that he wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone. For the second quote my dog does not relate because he is not full of himself. But it can be interpreted as such, a lot people hate the pit bull breed because these dogs are “aggressive” but in fact the only reason they are like this is because of the owners treatments towards them. So too Julius Caesar became the way he was because of the people.

Anora, Team Diana

Breaking News! History is back! Better and modern!!!

In chapter seven, Our readings were about Julius Caesar. He was a Roman politician that played a huge part in the events that led to the rise of the Roman empire. He is seen as powerful military leader who did a lot for the Roman empire. In Live of Illustrious experts, it states that ” His authority was so great that Opimius took up arms against Gracchus, and Marius against Glaucia and Saturninus, because of Scaurus’ advice in private” this quote gives just one of the many examples discussed in the writing like him building Mulvian Bridge and his military sacrifices. People  really thought of him as Great leader for doing such great acts. They honored him until his true colors came out. But in another passage we see a different side. In Cassius Dio ( Book 44.7-20), we get to see more of Caesar or the hidden side of him. It states “At any rate, some actually ventured to suggest permitting him to have intercourse with as many women as he pleased, because even at this time, though fifty years old, he still had numerous mistresses” this quote shows how he did not had much respect for women or his own wife. He had many mistresses for his own pleasure.  The fact that he treated used women like this shows that he is not as perfect as he seems. As we go on in the readings we truly see his selfish side. He took too much pride in himself and thought of himself more than a king. We see his self conceited side again when he rejects the king role, the offer that priests give him ” Caesar answered: “Jupiter alone is king of the Romans,” and sent the diadem to Jupiter on the Capitol; yet he was not angry, but caused it to be inscribed in the records that he had refused to accept the kingship when offered to him by the people through the consul” in this quote his response shows how he refuses the offer and calls himself better than a king. He did not care what people are offering him but instead declined for his selfish reasons. The readings in chapter seven clearly show both sides of Julius Caesar. It shows how no one is perfectly great. His flaws and his good actions are written perfectly for the audience. The readings both praise and show his evil side of the story. The different quotes given above show his different sides. The  image that I used is of this haircut called “Caesar’. It’s a selfie of me and my best friend. He has Caesar hairstyle which I recognized after doing my research on this type of hairstyle. It was introduced by Julius Caeser from who the name is derived. The Caesar haircut requires short hair, although your fringe can be long, and should be styled by bringing the hair forward. It was really popular in the 90s and is still used in modern era. This shows how our past is all around us. Our important figures names are even used in haircuts but we never really pay attention to it. This knows how powerful knowledge is and how important it is to be aware of our surroundings because the possibilities of finding new things are endless. Fizza saeed, Team Hermes

Julius Caesar

The first quote I choose is from the Lives of Illustrious Men, ” Here lies Pompey the Great. Pompey’s head, wrapped with an Egyptian covering, was presented along with a ring to Caesar by Achillas, an attendant of Ptolemy. Caesar could not keep back tears, and he took care that the head was burned with many very costly perfumes.” I chose this quote in particular because it depicts Julius Caesar in a slightly different light than most people are used to. Most people when they read about Caesar or think of him, they think of a strong and powerful man, one with barely any flaws or vulnerabilities; similar to that of depictions of views of Augustus or Alexander the Great. But this passage shows Julius in a vulnerable state. Albeit it doesn’t show him in a particularly bad light, but he is deeply mourning and saddened over the death of his friend and ally, Pompey, which is something new. Moreover, this passage also shows him in a more human way and characterizes him as a man with great humility. Like stated above, he is not some great god or savior, he is a human man, who is not afraid to openly mourn over a friend’s death.

The second Quote I choose is from Cassius Dio, “Antony with his fellow-priests saluted him as king and binding a diadem upon his head, said: “The people offer this to you through me.” 3 And Caesar answered: “Jupiter alone is king of the Romans,” and sent the diadem to Jupiter on the Capitol; yet he was not angry, but caused it to be inscribed in the records that he had refused to accept the kingship when offered to him by the  people through the consul.” This second quote is very similar to the first one, in my opinion, which is the reason why I picked it. In this quote, Julius Caesar rejects the kingship that the priests/Diadem present him with. stating that he is not a king, but the god, Jupiter, alone is the true king of the Romans. When I first read this, I was confused because I thought that Julius was a king. What I realized, after doing some research, was that Caesar in fact was not the king of the Roman Republic. He was simply the dictator/leader of the Roman Republic. But going back to how this quote is similar to the first one above, is the fact that this passage once again illustrates the humility that Julius Caesar possessed within his character. He had enough humility to outright say he, himself, is not the King, without any hesitation or second thought. In addition, it shows him as not being merciless or a angry leader, as he did not get furious when the priests presented him with the crown. 

The selfie that I decided to take was one of me and the moth of July. When googling things named after Julius Caesar, I learned that the moth July is actually named in honor of him. Apparently when Julius Caesar died, the Roman month Quintillis (which was in fact his birth month) was renamed July. Unfortunately, the two quotes placed above does not entirely show why something like a whole month would be named after Julius Caesar. Sure he was a man with great humility and benevolence, but in my opinion that alone wouldn’t give him this great honor. I speculate that what gave him  or what influenced this great honor was due to how great Julius Caesar was and all the things he achieved and accomplished for the Roman Republic. Furthermore, because of all that he did and accomplished he was revered and renowned in Roman society.

Fun fact: I’m actually born in the month of July as well, it’s interesting because I hadn’t realized this fact until just now.

Sean lau, Team Ares