Julius Caesar (Extra Credit)
Once again, I am late getting this posted, so this blog will be for extra credit.Two years after his death, the Roman Senate declared Caesar a god. This gave Roman biographers the unusual task of recounting the life of a man who was, by official proclamation, a divine being. By the time the biographer Suetonius writes his Life of the Deified Julius, the Roman people has worshipped Caesar as a god for more than 150 years. Please read through Divus Julius, and pick out a line that shows especially well why the Roman people might have accepted Caesar as divine or a line that shows that regarding Caesar as a god was more than a little strange.
posted by Ancient Art at 6:47 PM
8 Comments:
"Accordingly, crossing with his army, and welcoming the tribunes of the plebeians, who had come to him after being driven from Rome, he harangued the soldiers with tears, and rending his robe from his breast besought their faithful service."
This could be a reason why some people may have worshipped Caesar as a god. He was obviously able to rally his men during a battle. It says here that Caesar brought his men to tears and earned their faithful service. Such an ability to arouse your men to serve you until the end is rare. Because of this abilit some people might became infatuated with Caesar and say something like, "he can rally his men, tis a gift from the gods." And eventually these stories will turn into people saying the Caesar is a god becasue of his great military skill and ability to command the obedience of his soldiers.
XXVI "He [Caesar] doubled the pay of the legions for all time. Whenever grain was plentiful, he distributed it to them without stint or measure, and now and then gave each man a slave from among the captives."
Caesar was very generous to the Roman army. Because he was generous the army became loyal to him. They regarded him as a God because he looked out for their overall welfare and they trusted him in his military campaigns. During his nine years as propraetor, Caesar was successful in nearly all of his battles. Only three times in nine years did Caesar's army suffer a defeat. This was unheard of and his army celebrated and cherished their leader as a God.
The Roman people, after many years of democracy, was willing to make Caesar a god because they wanted a hero and figure to worship. Caesar, according to the Romans, had favor with the gods. In one instance, where he is encamped by a river,
"this sign was given him. On a sudden there appeared hard by a being of wondrous stature and beauty, who sat and played upon a reed; and when not only the shepherds flocked to hear him, but many of the soldiers left their posts, and among them some of the trumpeters, the apparition snatched a trumpet from one of them, rushed to the river, and sounding the war-note with mighty blast, strode to the opposite bank. Then Caesar cried: 'Take we the course which the signs of the gods and the false dealing of our foes point out. The die is cast (XXXII)."
This was a sign from the gods that Caesar was destined to lead his people toward victory.
However, Caesar seemed in hindsight a person that constantly sought to bribe and blackmail his opponents and friends to gain power and get what he wanted. In section XII, Caesar "also bribed a man to bring a charge of high treason against Gaius Rabirius, who some years before, had rendered conspicuous service to the senate in repressing the seditious designs of the tribune Lucius Saturninus; and when he had been selected by lot to sentence the accused, he did so with such eagerness, that when Rabirius appealed to the people, nothing was so much in his favor as the bitter hostility of his judge." In other words, he bribed a judge to rule against an enemy of Caesar and the Senate. Make some wonder why the Romans worshipped him.
I think that this quote shows how the Roman people might have been fooled into believing he was a god: "Having ended the wars, he celebrated five triumphs, four in a single month"
As has been pointed out, to get a triumph was a very big deal. For him to be able to get five triumphs was huge. And for him to get four in a single months time, that seems even bigger. It would be easy to believe that he had superhuman powers to earn such an honor.
"When aedile [65 B.C.], Caesar decorated not only the Comitium and the Forum with its adjacent basilicas, but the Capitol as well, building temporary colonnades for the display of a part of his material. He exhibited combats with wild beasts and stageplays too, both with his colleague and independently. The result was that Caesar alone took all the credit even for what they spent in common"
I find it somewhat odd that Casear was acknowledged if not worshipped for his ability to throw a good party. What leadership or futhermore godlike qualities are found in that?? Often those who party are more concerned with the short term consequences rather than with the long term effects of having a little fun. Casear's parties didn't prove that he could lead a nation if the situation called for it or that he cared about the needs of his people. What he did prove was that he was willing to throw the biggest and best parties at whatever the cost. This would eventually lead to Casear drowning himself in piles of debt. I don't believe that an individual's comparison to a god should be based on the fact that they can throw a good party.
Even though Ceasar did some things that were not of high standards, I believe he was looked up as a devine being because he usually supported the common man. The material said he was elected military tribune because of his attempts to re-establish the authority of the tribune of the commons. Later on, the reading said that Caesar abetted Caecilius Metellus after trying to pass a bill of seditious nature. These two lines show that Caesar supported the common people and in return they supported him and looked up to him.
. He valued his soldiers neither for their personal character nor their fortune, but solely for their prowess, and he treated them with equal strictness and indulgence; for he did not curb them everywhere and at all times, but only in the presence of the enemy. Then he required the strictest discipline, not announcing the time of a march or a battle, but keeping them ready and alert to be led on a sudden at any moment wheresoever he might wish. He often called them out even when there was no occasion for it, especially on rainy days and holidays. And warning them every now and then that they must keep close watch on him, he would steal away suddenly by day or night and make a longer march than usual, to tire out those who were tardy in following.
Caesar took care of his troop and made sure they were ready for battle. Note the military phrase, "If it aint raining, we aint training." Caesar only commanded strict self-discipline and discipline for authority only when in training and in front of the enemy. Some of the lesser troops, thise that couldn't handle the training, were weeded out. Caesar shared the spoils of war with his troops and they were greatful. Caesar fought at the front lines with his soldiers and I believe that is where he recieved the most respect. Nobody cares to follow the officer just sitting on the side lines giving the orders. The soldiers will follow the orders from such a person but they will not respect him. I could see how Caesar could be almost God like in the eyes of his troops, Like General Patton in WWII, or General Chesty Pullar at the Chosen Reservour in the Korean War. These gentileman are survivors.
He also bribed a man to bring a charge of high treason against Gaius Rabirius, who some years before, had rendered conspicuous service to the senate in repressing the seditious designs of the tribune Lucius Saturninus; and when he had been selected by lot to sentence the accused, he did so with such eagerness, that when Rabirius appealed to the people, nothing was so much in his favor as the bitter hostility of his judge.
If one is considered a diety, why would one need to bribe anyone for anything? One whom would be a god, then would not god be able to influence the way time progresses? therefore would the one who was a god, be able to make things be the way he would want them to be without resorting to petty things?
Post a Comment
<< Home