By Joon and Andrew, Jeju, March 2023
Gaius Julius Caesar was one of the most well-known generals in history, and the father of the Roman Empire. Caesar broughtvictory to Rome on many occasions, as well as expanded the country’s territory across much of Europe. He was also a skilled politician, and ruled as one of the First Triumvirate, alongside Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and Marcus Licinius Crassus. Caesar was known to be decisive; after conquering Gallia, modern day France, he was ordered to return to Rome and disband his army. However, instead of following Romeʼs orders, Caesar crossed the Rubicon River, famously saying “alea iacta est” — the die is cast. However, when Caesar became the dictator of Rome after winning the civil war against Pompey and Cleopatra VII, he was assassinated by senators who feared his power. Caesar is famously known to have been stabbed 23 times.
After he was killed, Rome mourned to such an extent that he was regarded as a god. We call this Caesar's Apotheosis. It is said that sidus Iulium or Caesar's Comet came down from the skies during his funeral in 44 BC showing that he was now with the gods. Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, the famous Roman historian said ”He died in the fifty-sixth year of his age, and was numbered among the gods, not only by a formal decree, but also in the conviction of the common people. For at the first of the games which his heir Augustus gave in honour of his apotheosis, a comet shone for seven successive days, rising about the eleventh hour, and was believed to be the soul of Caesar, who had been taken to heaven; and this is why a star is set upon the crown of his head in his statue.” Caesar was revered with temples and statues which can still be found in various places throughout the Roman Empire. Caesar was not only a general or a politician for Romans. He was the leader of Rome, the great conqueror, and, after his death, worshipped as a god.
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