The Murder of Caesar, Karl von Piloty, 1865
Caesar Giving Cleopatra the Throne of Egypt, Pietro da Cortona, ca. 1637
Denarius of Julius Caesar, advertising his reputed descent from the goddess Venus through Aeneas. On the obverse, the diademed head of Venus; on the reverse, Aeneas flees Troy, holding the sacred palladium in his hand and bearing his aged father Anchises on his shoulders. Artist unknown; minted in North Africa, 48-47 BCE. Photo credit: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com
Denarius of the Roman emperor Augustus. On the obverse, the head of Augustus, wearing the corona civica (a crown of oak leaves, given to one who had saved the lives of Roman citizens); on the reverse, the comet seen in July 44 BCE that was held to mark the deification of Augustus' adoptive father Julius Caesar, with the inscription DIVUS IULIUS (the Deified Julius). Artist unknown; minted in Spain, 19-18 BCE. Photo credit: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com
Denarius of Julius Caesar during his reign as dictator perpetuus, Feb.-Mar. 44 BCE, issued by the moneyer P. Sepullius Macer. On the obverse, the wreathed head of Caesar; on the reverse, his patron goddess Venus Victrix, holding Victory. Photo credit: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com
Julius Caesar, Andrea Ferrucci, ca. 1512-14
Cleopatra Showing Octavian the Bust of Julius Caesar, Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787)
The Brief Career of Caesar
Ausonius, The Twelve Caesars I (“Julius Caesar”) The power that custom had once vested In two consuls each year, Julius Caesar obtained. But briefly indeed did he reign as a king - He wielded his power for only three years, Then was struck down by a savage conspiracy Of citizens who’d taken up arms. Imperium, binis fuerat sollemne quod olim consulibus, Caesar Iulius optinuit. set breve ius regni, sola trieteride gestum: perculit armatae factio saeva togae.
Julius Caesar, Peter Paul Rubens, 1619
A (heavily restored) bust of Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE). Now in the National Archaeological Museum, Naples.
Happy (official) birthday, Gaius Julius Caesar!
Caesar Giving Cleopatra the Throne of Egypt, Pietro da Cortona, ca. 1637
An Epitaph for Julius Caesar
Anthologia Latina 850, “Epitaphium Iulii Caesaris”, author unknown Note: “the patricide” = Brutus, who was reputed in some quarters to be Caesar’s illegitimate son. Behold, I am here- I, Caesar. What man outdid me in warfare? Who was my superior in eloquence? Who showed more mercy than I Or more exceptional piety? All those whom I subdued, I conquered more with piety Than with raw strength of arms. Fortune stood more beside me, Gave more to me alone Than the gods have given themselves. I was splendid in works and war, I mastered the German peoples, Likewise the powerful Gauls; And all the tripartite world I held beneath my fasces. Such virtue could not be destroyed, Nor could my fame and renown; Not even the wicked patricide Could restrain the spread of my name. The path along which the Titan, The Sun, speeds in his chariot; The path by which the axis Of heaven sinks down to night- By that path, the West Wind will carry My triumphs through the ages. En adsum Caesar. Quis me praestantior armis? Quis prior eloquio? Quis me clementior alter Egregia pietate fuit? Quoscumque subegi, Hos vici pietate magis quam fortibus armis. Plus mecum Fortuna fuit, plus obtulit uni Quam sibi di dederunt. Gestis belloque refulsi, Germanos domui populos Gallosque potentes Atque tripartitum tenui sub fascibus orbem. Deleri haud potuit virtus, non inclyta fama; Haud patricida meum potuit restringere nomen. Qua rapitur Titan curru, qua vergitur axis, Hac Zephyrus nostros referet per saecla triumphos.
The Triumphs of Caesar, IX: Julius Caesar on His Triumphal Chariot, Andrea Mantegna, 1484-92
The Death of Caesar, Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1859-67