ALWAYS I AM CAESAR. W. Jeffrey Tatum

Transcription

1 ALWAYS I AM CAESAR W. Jeffrey Tatum

2

3 Always I am Caesar

4 For Angela Aslanska and Robin Seager

5 ALWAYS I AM CAESAR W. Jeffrey Tatum

6 2008 by W. Jeffrey Tatum BLACKWELL PUBLISHING 350 Main Street, Malden, MA , USA 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK 550 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia The right of W. Jeffrey Tatum to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher. Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. First published 2008 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tatum, W. Jeffrey. Always I am Caesar / W. Jeffrey Tatum. p. cm. Includes bibliographical refrences and index. ISBN (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Caesar, Julius. 2. Rome History Republic, B.C. 3. Heads of state Rome Biography. 4. Generals Rome Biography. I. Title. DG261.T dc22 A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library. Set in 10.5 on 13pt Minion by SNP Best-set Typesetter Ltd., Hong Kong Printed and bound in Singapore by Markono Print Media Pte Ltd The publisher s policy is to use permanent paper from mills that operate a sustainable forestry policy, and which has been manufactured from pulp processed using acid-free and elementary chlorine-free practices. Furthermore, the publisher ensures that the text paper and cover board used have met acceptable environmental accreditation standards. For further information on Blackwell Publishing, visit our website at

7 Contents List of Charts, Maps, and Figures Acknowledgements Charts Maps vi viii ix xii Introduction 1 1 Caesar the Politician: Power and the People in Republican Rome 18 2 Conquests and Glories, Triumphs and Spoils: Caesar and the Ideology of Roman Imperialism 42 3 Pontifex Maximus: Caesar and the Manipulation of Civic Religion 61 4 The Stones of Rome: Caesar and the Sociology of Roman Public Building 80 5 My True and Honourable Wife: Cornelia and Pompeia, Calpurnia and Cleopatra 99 6 Great Men and Impersonal Groundswells: The Civil War Great Caesar Fell: Philosophy, Politics, and Assassination The Evil that Men Do: Caesar and Augustus 167 Important Dates 189 Bibliography 190 Index 194 v

8 Lists of Charts, Maps, and Figures Charts 1 The family of Julius Caesar ix 2 Caesar and the Aurelii Cottae x 3 Cato and his connections xi Maps 1 The Mediterranean in the time of Caesar xii 2 The city of Rome during the republic xiii 3 The Roman Forum during the republic xiv Figures 1 Colossal portrait head of Caesar, from the 2nd century ad 2 2 Portrait of Pompey, a first century ad copy of an original dating to the fifties bc 7 3 Portrait of Cicero, an imperial copy of a late republican original 9 4 Portrait of Cato in bronze, from the 1st century ad 10 5 Caesar, a contemporary portrait 19 6 Funerary procession in a relief from Amiternum, 1st century ad 34 7 Obverse of a denarius of 44 bc representing Caesar as Pontifex Maximus and as Parens Patriae (Father of his Country) 36 vi

9 lists of charts, maps, and figures 8 Lionel Royer s Vercingetorix throws his arms at the feet of Caesar 58 9 Obverse and reverse of a denarius of 32 bc. The obverse depicts Mark Antony, the reverse Cleopatra Portrait of Cleopatra, probably (in large degree) a replica of Cleopatra s statue in the Temple of Venus Genetrix Cleopatra and Caesarion as Isis and Osiris making sacrifice to the goddess Hathor. South wall of the Temple of Hathor, Dendera, Egypt Reverse of a denarius of bc depicting a pileus (a cap indicating freedman status and so an emblem of freedom) between two daggers resting above the phase Ides of March. The obverse of this coin depicts Brutus Obverse of a denarius of 44 bc depicting Caesar as Dictator for the Fourth Time Vincenzo Camuccini s Assassination of Julius Caesar Obverse and reverse of a bronze coin of approximately 38 bc. The obverse depicts Octavian described as Caesar, son of god. The reverse depicts Caesar as Divus Iulius Augustus as Pontifex Maximus, a contemporary portrait 179 vii

10 Acknowledgements It is my pleasure to thank Tricia Smith, at Art Resource, Jenni Adam and Axellle Russo at The British Museum, Luisa Veneziano at the German Archaeological Institute, Rome, and Heidie Philipsen and Claus Grønne at Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek for their helpfulness. I also owe thanks to Indiana University Press for permission to quote from R. Humphries, Ovid. Metamorphoses, and to Penguin Press for permission to quote from D. West, The Aeneid by Virgil. I am grateful to Otago University for appointing me its De Carle Distinguished Lecturer in 2005 and to the university s Department of Classics for its unexcelled hospitality during my stay. I am indebted to Al Bertrand, Nancy de Grummond, John Marincola, Marjorie and Keith Maslen, and (especially) Jon Hall. My debts to Robin Seager run deeper, and it is my pleasure to acknowledge that reality in the dedication, a billing he shares, for different (but also profound) reasons, with Angela Aslanska. viii

11 CHART 1 THE FAMILY OF JULIUS CAESAR Sex. Julius Caesar (cos. 157) Q. Marcius Rex (pr. 144) L. Julius Caesar (pr. by 129) Sex. Julius Caesar (pr. 123) C. Julius Caesar = Marcia? Sex. Julius Caesar (cos. 91) JULIA = GAIUS MARIUS CAESAR C. Julius Caesar = Aurelia (pr. ca. 93) Julia = M. Atius Balbus? = (1) L. Marcius Philippus (2) = (2) Atia (1) = C. Octavius (cos. 56) (pr. 61) CATO = Marcia GAIUS OCTAVIUS/AUGUSTUS Octavia

12 CHART 2 CAESAR AND THE AURELII COTTAE L. Aurelius Cotta (cos. 144) P. Rutilius Rufus (tr. pl. 169) C. Livius Drusus (cos. 147) L. Aurelius Cotta (cos. 119) M. Aurelius Cotta = Rutilia P. Rutilius Rufus = Livia (cos. 105) M. Livius Drusus (cos. 112) L. Aurelius Cotta (pr. 95) AURELIA = C. Julius Caesar (pr. c. 92) JULIUS CAESAR Mam. Aemilius Lepidus Livianus (cos. 77) C. Aurelius Cotta (cos. 75) M. Aurelius Cotta (cos. 74) L. Aurelius Cotta (cos. 65)

13 CHART 3 CATO AND HIS CONNECTIONS Q. Servilius Caepio (cos. 140) Q. Servilius Caepio (cos. 106) M. Livius Drusus (cos. 112) Servilia = Q. Lutatius Catulus (cos. 102) Q. Servilius Caepio = (1) Livia (2) = M.Porcius Cato (pr. 91) Q. LUTATIUS CATULUS (cos. 78) Mam. Aemilius Lepidus Livianus (cos. 77) D. Junius = (2) SERVILIA (1) = M. Junius Silanus Brutus (cos. 62) (tr. pl. 83) Atilia = (1) CATO (2) = Marcia Porcia = DOMITIUS AHENOBARBUS (cos. 54) Junia =LEPIDUS Junia =P. Servilius Isauricus (cos. 48) BRUTUS (2) = (2) Porcia (1) M. CALPURNIUS BIBULUS (cos. 59) Junia =CASSIUS

14 BRITAIN Atlantic Ocean Rhine GERMANY Alesia Danube Munda M A U FURTHER SPAIN R E T NEARER SPAIN A N I A Rhône TRANSALPINE GAUL CORSICA SARDINIA Carthage Thapsus AFRICA Utica Verona CISALPINE GAUL Rome SICILY MALTA ILLYRICUM Actium Pharsalus Mediterranean Sea Phillipi CRETE Mytilene ASIA Black Sea BITHYNIA Zela CILICIA CYPRUS PONTUS SYRIA PARTHIA 500 km Alexandria EGYPT Nile Map 1 The Mediterranean in the time of Caesar.

15 feet Porta Collina metres Tiber Via Lata Servian Wall Aqua Marcia Saepta 3 4 Anio Vetus Campus Martius 5 Theatre of Pompey (55 BC) Area Sacra di Largo Argentina Hills of Rome 1 Palatine 2 Capitol 3 Quirinal 4 Viminal 5 Esquiline 6 Oppian 7 Caelian 8 Aventine Temples of Apollo Porticus Octavia and Bellona Temple of Hercules of the Muses Porticus Metelli Circus Flaminius Forum Holitorium Porta Carmentalis and Porta Triumphalis Temple of Hercules Olivarius or Victor Temple of Ceres Tiber Emporium Porticus Aemilia Horrea Galbana 8 2 Temple of Concord (121 BC) Forum Temple of Castor (Dioscuri) Forum Boarium Ara Maxima Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus Temples of Fortuna and Mater Matuta Circus Maximus Temple of Mercury House of Aemilius Scaurus 1 Temple of Magna Mater Servian Wall Porta Capena Via Appia 6 Aqua Appia Servian Wall 7 Via Latina Via Appia Tomb of the Scipios Map 2 The city of Rome during the republic. Source: Rosenstein, N., and Morstein-Marx, R. (eds.), A Companion to the Roman Republic (Oxford, 2006).