NEW EVANGELION OF MARK

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NEW EVANGELION OF MARK

Chapter 1 (Intro ¹ to ¹⁴)

ISSA CAESARION

¹⁵ Now, this is the celestial story of Emmanuel and as above so is below here is too his story terrestrial. ¹⁶ In the year 3,054 since start of the Kali Yuga age (47 BCE), in the city of Alexandria, the capital of the ancient Egyptian empire, was born a prince and heir to the thrones of Egyptian and Roman empires called Issa, his Egyptian name that means son of the virgin goddess Isis, as his mother Cleopatra VII, of Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty established by Alexander the Great, was believed to be the living incarnation of.

¹⁷ While his Roman name is Caesarion, means little Caesar, being first born son of god emperor Julius Caesar, proclaimed so by the Roman Senate. ¹⁸ The ancient world's two most famous royal families of two major empires who have united through marriage, Caesarion being the good news with promise of lasting peace to follow. ¹⁹ Yet, as it often happens, the fate has dealt different destiny of which none could be privy and prepared for.

²⁰ Their story is famous yet shrouded in mystery, myths, and legends. ²¹ The living holy trinity manifested in human form as a royal family; Mother of Peace as Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, Father of Truth as Gaius Julius Caesar, and Holy Spirit of love as Issa Caesarion. ²² Most glorious, victorious, notorious, prestigious bunch the world has ever seen. ²³ Caesar has transformed Roman Republic into an empire ruling the ancient world as a god, first amongst equals.

²⁴ Yet, while the empire prospered keeping masses content not all senators were happy about it. ²⁴ Some of the noble families saw the birth of Issa in distant Alexandria as a threat to their own hopes for the imperial crown. ²⁶ Thus the murmurs of discontent have spread through the Roman elites who have increasingly grew to despise and resent Caesar.

²⁷ Queen Cleopatra has travelled to Rome in 46 BCE with Issa at the age of one year where she stayed in Caesar's villa. ²⁸ Her grand arrival and reception has spread much excitement throughout the capital however the fears of the foreign queen also have spread like a wild fire causing much paranoia and distrust among nobles.

OCTAVIUS

²⁹ A group of senators have approached incognito Gaius Octavius, later renamed Julius Caesar Augustus, who is Caesar's maternal grandnephew and, to the surprise of many, became his adopted son and sole heir; as a result he was named in Caesar's will bequeathing him glorious Caesar's name, to inherit his vast wealth and estate, and the loyalty of his legions. ³⁰ Octavius was taking studies in Apollonia at a time of their visit.

³¹ So they whispered their concerns and fears into Octavian's ears and he listened to them and pondered about what is to become out of it or not, what could he do and do it right before it was too late for him and his lot.

THE CONSPIRACY

³² The three main conspirators in the plot to assassinate Julius Caesar were Cassius, Decimus, and Brutus. ³³ Out of about 900 senators, 60 to 70 were involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar, with some 20 of which are mentioned by name, which include the ringleaders:

³⁴ "Marcus Junius Brutus, former Pompeian, the fifth and last of the assassins to wound Caesar, in the groin

³⁵ Gaius Cassius Longinus, former Pompeian, the second assassin to strike Caesar, in the face

³⁶ Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, former Caesarian, the fourth assassin to land a wound on Caesar (a stab to the thigh)

³⁷ Gaius Trebonius, former Caesarian, did not participate in the attack; kept Mark Antony outside the Theatre of Pompey while Caesar was being stabbed instead.

³⁸ Other conspirators:

• Lucius Tillius Cimber, former Caesarian, the one responsible for setting the stage for the attack

• Publius Servilius Casca Longus, former Caesarian, the one responsible for the first stab, to Caesar's shoulder

• Servius Sulpicius Galba, former Caesarian

• Servilius Casca, former Caesarian, brother of Publius Casca, the third assassin to strike Caesar, and the only one of the assassins to inflict a fatal wound on Caesar (a stab between the ribs)

• Pontius Aquila, former Pompeian
• Quintus Ligarius, former Pompeian
• Lucius Minucius Basilus, former Caesarian
• Gaius Cassius Parmensis
• Caecilius, former Pompeian
• Bucilianus, former Pompeian, brother of Caecilius
• Rubrius Ruga, former Pompeian
• Marcus Spurius, former Pompeian
• Publius Sextius Naso, former Pompeian
• Petronius
• Publius Turullius
• Pacuvius Labeo

• ³⁹ Marcus Tullius Cicero was not a member of the conspiracy and was surprised by it. He later wrote to the conspirator Trebonius that he wished he had been "invited to that superb banquet" and believed that the conspirators should also have killed Mark Antony." Wikipedia: Assassination of Julius Caesar

DECIMUS

⁴⁰ Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (?27 April 81 BCE – September 43 BCE) was a Roman politician and general, and a close family friend and comrade of Caesar during the Gallic Wars, ⁴¹ commanded the Roman fleet in the war against the Veneti fleet in 56 BCE, which he has cleverly destroyed in the Battle of Morbihan by cutting loose the sails of the enemy ships using sickle-like hooks fitted on long poles, ⁴² then he served against Vercingetorix in 52 BCE, a Gallic king/chieftain of the Arverni tribe who united the Gauls against Rome in a failed revolt, ⁴³ and fought in the Caesar's civil war (49–45 BCE) against Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey) where he was also in charge of the Roman fleet.

⁴⁴ Caesar placed Decimus in charge of the naval blockade around Greek city of Massilia. ⁴⁵ Within one month he has built a new fleet with which he has defeated the Massilian fleet twice, and together with the commander of the siege Gaius Trebonius has secured its capitulation.

⁴⁶ Decimus was descended of old Roman nobility, likely son of the senator Decimus Junius Brutus, who was a consul as were his grandfather and great-grandfather, and his wife Sempronia, likely descended from the ill-fated popular reformer Gaius Gracchus, involved in unsuccessful Catalina plot to forcefully take over the consulship from Cicero and Antonius in November 63 BC.

⁴⁷ Decimus Brutus grew up in the company of Publius Clodius Pulcher, Gaius Scribonius Curio, and Marcus Antonius. ⁴⁸ A Roman patrician Postumius Albinus, of the ancient Roman noble family, has adopted Decimus however he didn't change his name as was customary in such situations preferring to keep his family name instead.

⁴⁹ Julius Caesar has developed affection for Decimus Brutus and on many occasions has expressed his love for him like a son, naming Decimus in his will as an heir in the second degree and designated him as a guardian of any child of Caesar. ⁵⁰ Basically, in Appian's view, Caesar has adopted Decimus.

⁵¹ Decimus has married Paula Valeria in 50 BCE, the sister of Gaius Valerius Triarius, a friend of Cicero who fought against Caesar at Pharsalus alongside with Pompey.

⁵² When Caesar, as dictator of the republic, has returned to Rome after his victory over the Conservative faction in the Battle of Munda (45 BCE), Marcus Brutus has finally joined the group of conspirators plotting against Caesar, after being persuaded by Cassius and Decimus.

CASSIUS

⁵³ Gaius Cassius Longinus, from an ancient Roman family, gens Cassia, was Brutus' brother-in-law and the other major player in the conspiracy, who was putting pressure on him to act, however out of his, as Plutarch points, "personal animosity rather than in any disinterested aversions to tyranny."

⁵⁴ In 54 BCE, Marcus Licinius Crassus has began his eastern campaign against the Parthian Empire which Cassius has joined as quaestor. ⁵⁵ In 53 BCE, Crassus led the Roman army at the Battle of Carrhae in Northern-Mesopotamia which was a complete failure. ⁵⁶ Plutarch notes, Cassius has advised Crassus not to invade Parthia, thus if he had followed it the crushing defeat at Carrhae could have been avoided.

⁵⁷ Cassius has proven to be a competent commander and good leader. His men loved him and trusted his judgement. ⁵⁸ According to Dio, Crassus himself, along with his Roman soldiers, were willing to give the overall command to Cassius after the initial disaster in the battle, which Cassius refused.

⁵⁹ In 51 BCE, Cassius was able to ambush and defeat an invading Parthian army that has besieged Antioch, a major city in Syria, where his legions were stationed. ⁶⁰ In 50 BCE, Cassius returned to Rome when the civil war was about to begin between Julius Caesar and Pompey.

⁶¹ In 49 BCE, Cassius was elected tribune of the plebs and threw his support with the Optimates, while his brother Lucius Cassius supported Caesar. ⁶² After Caesar has crossed the Rubicon, Cassius left Italy and met Pompey in Greece, who has appointed him to command part of his fleet.

⁶³ In 48 BCE, Cassius sailed with his ships to Sicily where he attacked and sunk most of Caesar's navy. ⁶⁴ However with the news of Pompey's defeat at the Battle of Pharsalus, Cassius sailed for the Hellespont, with hopes of allying with the king of Pontus, Pharnaces II, but en route there he was captured by Caesar and forced to surrender.

⁶⁵ Brutus preferred Hellenistic Stoicism, being naturally always calm and emotionally detached, more accurately he is described as an Antiochean Platonist, while Cassius was deeply interested in philosophy as such. ⁶⁶ Cicero mentions his youthful adherence to the Academy (Ad familiares xv.16.3).

⁶⁷ Between 48 and 45 BCE, Cassius has adopted philosophy of Epicurus who was an atomist and materialist, a form of hedonism based on Democritus with the focus on pursuing the greatest pleasure described as the absence of pain and fear, and thus a simple life was preferredby its adherents, which is quite different from other popular notions of hedonism.

⁶⁸ Epicurus' materialism reflected his religious skepticism which he used to argue against superstition and divine intervention. ⁶⁹ Originally arising as a challenge to Platonism, Epicureanism later became main opponent of Stoicism. ⁷⁰ Epicurus advocated the abstinence from all forms of politics yet at Rome his philosophy was popular with many prominent public figures, such as Caesar's father-in-law, Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus.

⁷¹ While Cassius was the main instigator in the plot against Caesar, winning over the would be assassin senators, who is depicted in Dante's Inferno being tormented at the lowest circle of Hell as punishment for his betrayal and murder of Caesar, however it is Brutus who became their leader. ⁷² Some of the anonymous senators, about sixty to seventy who were part of the conspiracy, would approach and say to him: "Thou art asleep, Brutus," or "Thou art not Brutus" (LXII.7).

BRUTUS

⁷³ Marcus Junius Brutus, aka Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, was a descendant of same Lucius Junius Brutus (died c. 500 BCE) who around five centuries ago was empowered by a decree of the Senate, in popular support of the people, to take measures to exile all the royal family members of the house of Tarquinius. ⁷⁴ Thus he was now seen as the one who was expected to save the Republic from the increasing dictatorship and imperial ambitions of Caesar.

⁷⁵ Brutus involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar was crucial, as Plutarch writes, "men would say that if their cause had been just, then Brutus would not have refused to support it." ⁷⁶ As a child, Brutus' father was executed by Pompey but even that didn't make Brutus to betray the Republic. ⁷⁷ Plutarch wrote, "he ought to put the public good before his private loyalties" (Life of Brutus, IV.1).

⁷⁸ Brutus' mother Servilia, a Roman matron from a noble family, the Servilii Caepiones, was the daughter of Quintus Servilius Caepio and Livia, making her the maternal half-sister of Cato the Younger. ⁷⁹ She married Marcus Junius Brutus, father of Marcus Junius Brutus of the same name.

⁸⁰ More intimately, Servilia had been Caesar's mistress for twenty years, to whom he gave a precious pearl worth six million sesterces, equivalent of about 1,500,000 denarii, (Suetonius, Life of Julius Caesar, L.2); when a Roman legionnaire, for example, was paid only 225 per year. ⁸¹ Then too there was a rumor or two that Caesar might have also seduced Servilia's daughter Junia, Brutus' half-sister who later became Cassius' wife.

⁸² His uncle, Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis aka Cato the Younger, was a leader of the Optimates party (best), the conservative patricians who supported the traditional values of the Republic. ⁸³ Cato had fought against Caesar during the Civil War but after his defeat he was rather to commit suicide than hope for a possible pardon by Caesar.

GLORIOUS CAESAR

⁸⁴ In the civil war with Pompey in 45 BCE, Caesar was victorious and now have consolidated power over the Republic in his hands, as Appian writes,

⁸⁵ "Proclaimed the Father of his Country and chosen dictator for life and consul for ten years, and his person was declared sacred and inviolable. It was decreed that he should transact business on a throne of ivory and gold; that he should himself sacrifice always in triumphal costume; that each year the city should celebrate the days on which he had won his victories; that every five years priests and Vestal virgins should offer up public prayers for his safety; and that the magistrates immediately upon their inauguration should take an oath not to oppose any of Caesar's decrees" (II.106).

⁸⁶ Caesar has trusted Brutus, appointing him as Urban Prefect for a year in 44 BCE, and after the civil war has speared his life. ⁸⁷ However Cassius got very upset with the appointment as praetor urbanus of his junior and brother-in-law Marcus Brutus.

⁸⁸ Caesar thrice rejected a crown in February 44 BCE that was offered by Marcus Antonius before the cheering crowds, however later he has accepted the title of dictator perpetuo, Latin for a lifelong dictator or an undetermined term.

⁸⁹ In 44 BCE, at the Lupercalia festival, an ancient Roman pastoral festival observed annually on February 15 to purify the city, promoting health and fertility, Mark Antony has presented Julius Caesar, who was seated on a gilded throne at the front of the Rostra, the diadem of kingship, which he has promptly and publicly refused.

⁹⁰ As a dictator he already had the absolute power, and many regarded it as an empty gesture. ⁹¹ Appian of Alexandria notes, "the difference it could make to them turned on a mere quibble, since in plain fact 'dictator' is exactly the same as 'king'" (Civil Wars, II.111). ⁹² However a month later, on the Ides of March (Idus Martiae), the would-be king will be dead.

Chapter 2

Author: Plutarch, Life of Julius Caesar
Editor: John D. Cox

Predictions and foreshows of Caesar's death.

¹ "LXIII. Certainly destiny may easier be foreseen than avoided, considering the strange and wonderful signs that were said to be seen before Caesar's death. ² For, touching the fires in the element, and spirits running up and down in the night, and also the solitary birds to be seen at noondays sitting in the great market-place, are not all these signs perhaps worth the noting, in such a wonderful chance as happened?

³ But Strabo the philosopher writeth, that divers men were seen going up and down in fire: and furthermore, that there was a slave of the soldiers that did cast a marvelous burning flame out of his hand, insomuch as they that saw it thought he had been burnt; but when the fire was out, it was found he had no hurt.

⁴ Caesar self also doing sacrifice unto the gods, found that one of the beasts which was sacrificed had no heart: and that was a strange thing in nature, how a beast could live without a heart.

Caesar's day of his death prognosticated by a soothsayer.

⁵ Furthermore there was a certain soothsayer that had given Caesar warning long time afore, to take heed of the day of the Ides of March, (which is the fifteenth of the month), for on that day he should be in great danger.

⁶ That day being come, Caesar going unto the Senate-house, and speaking merrily unto the soothsayer, told him, "the Ides of March be come :" " so they be," softly answered the soothsayer, " but yet are they not past."^¹

⁷ "Already, there were suspicions of conspiracy and, in retrospect, ominous portents. ⁸ The night before he died, Caesar had dinner with Lepidus, the Master of Horse. ⁹ As they drank, the conversation turned to what was the best sort of death for a man. ¹⁰ Caesar replied that which was sudden and unexpected (Plutarch, Life of Julius Caesar, LXIII.7)."^²

¹¹ "And the very day before, Caesar, supping with Marcus Lepidus, sealed certain letters, as he was wont to do, at the board: so, talk falling out amongst them, reasoning what death was best, he, preventing their opinions, cried out aloud, " death unlooked for.""¹

The dream of Calpurnia, Caesar's wife.

¹² "Later that night, his wife Calpurnia dreamed of his body streaming with blood and tried to prevent him from leaving the house (LXIII.9)."^²

¹³ "Then going to bed the same night, as his manner was, and lying with his wife Calpurnia, all the windows and doors of his chamber flying open, the noise awoke him, and made him afraid when he saw such light: but more, when he heard his wife Calpurnia, being fast asleep, weep and sigh, and put forth many fumbling lamentable speeches: for she dreamed that Caesar was slain, and that she had him in her arms.

¹⁴ Others also do deny that she had any such dream, as, amongst other, Titus Livius writeth that it was in this sort: the Senate having set upon the top of Caesar's house, for an ornament and setting forth a of the same, a certain pinnacle, Calpurnia dreamed that she saw it broken down, and that she thought she lamented and wept for it.

¹⁵ Insomuch that, Caesar rising in the morning, she prayed him, if it were possible, not to go out of the doors that day, but to adjourn the session of the Senate until another day. ¹⁶ And if that he made no reckoning of her dream, yet that he would search further of the soothsayers by their sacrifices, to know what should happen him that day.

¹⁷ Thereby it seemed that Caesar likewise did fear or suspect somewhat, because his wife Calpurnia until that time was never given to any fear and superstition: and that then he saw her so troubled in mind with this dream she had. ¹⁸ But much more afterwards, when the soothsayers having sacrificed many beasts one after another, told him that none did like them: then he determined to send Antonius to adjourn the session of the Senate."^¹

¹⁹ "The priests, too, found the omens to be unfavorable. Caesar hesitated, but was persuaded by one of the conspirators that not to attend the Senate would disappoint those who were there already waiting for him and only show further disrespect. ²⁰ Even as evidence of the plot became known, there were attempts to inform Caesar, but either they were too late or ignored. ²¹ It was to be as Appian foretold: "For it was fated that Caesar should meet his fate" (II.116)."^²

Decius Brutus Albinus' persuasion to Caesar.

²² "LXIV But in the mean time came Decius Brutus, surnamed Albinus, in whom Caesar put such confidence, that in his last will and testament he had appointed him to be his next heir, and yet was of the conspiracy with Cassius and Brutus: he, fearing that if Caesar did adjourn the session that day, the conspiracy would be betrayed, laughed at the soothsayers, and reproved Caesar, saying, " that he gave the Senate occasion to mislike with him, and that they might think he mocked them, considering that by his commandment they were assembled, and that they were ready willingly to grant him all things, and to proclaim him king of all his provinces of the Empire of Rome out of Italy, and that he should wear his diadem in all other places both by sea and land. ²³ And furthermore, that if any man should tell them from him they should depart for that present time, and return again when Calpurnia should have better dreams, what would his enemies and ill-willers say, and how could they like of his friends' words? ²⁴ And who could persuade them otherwise, but that they would think his dominion a slavery unto them and tyrannical in himself? ²⁵ And yet if it be so," said he, "that you utterly mislike of this day, it is better that you go yourself in person, and, saluting the Senate, to dismiss them till another time."

Decius Brutus brought Caesar unto the Senate house. The tokens of conspiracy against Caesar.

²⁶ Therewithal he took Caesar by the hand, and brought him out of his house. ²⁷ Caesar was not gone far from his house, but a bond-man, a stranger, did what he could to speak with him: and when he saw he was put back by the great press and multitude of people that followed him, he went straight into his house, and put himself into Calpurnia's hands, to be kept till Caesar came back again, telling her that he had greater matters to impart unto him."^¹

²⁸ "In four days, Caesar was to leave Rome to revenge the death of Crassus by the Parthians nine years earlier, and to increase his own power and that of the empire. ²⁹ The campaign would remove Caesar from Rome, and from the reach of the conspirators, until he eventually returned, more powerful still. ³⁰ They therefore had to act quickly, "either from jealousy of his fortune and power, now grown to enormous proportions, or, as they themselves alleged, from a desire to restore the republic of their fathers; for they feared (and in this they knew their man) that if he should conquer these nations also he would indeed be indisputably king" (II.111).

³¹ On the Ides of March, the Senate was to meet in the Curia Pompeii, an annex of the colonnaded porticus adjacent to the stage of the Theater of Pompey, which he had been built just a decade or so before. ³² Caesar was late and, as Brutus and Cassius anxiously waited for him to arrive, one of the senators confided that his prayers were with them. ³³ "May your plan succeed," relates Plutarch, "but whatever you do, make haste. ³⁴ Everyone is talking about it by now."

³⁵ But there was nothing the conspirators could do except grasp their daggers and prepare to use them on themselves, if need be. ³⁶ Porcia, the daughter of Cato, whom Brutus had married within a year of her father's death, had insisted that she be told of the plan. ³⁷ The day of the assassination, her anxiety was so great that she became hysterical and fainted from apprehension.

³⁸ Suetonius relates that a soothsayer had warned Caesar that he was in grave danger, which would not pass until the Ides had ended. ³⁹ Entering the building, Caesar now chided him that the day had arrived. "Yes," he replied, "but they have not yet gone.""^²

⁴⁰ "LXV. And one Artemidorus also, born in the isle of Cnidos, a doctor of rhetoric in the Greek tongue, who by means of his profession was very familiar with certain of Brutus' confederates, and therefore knew the most part of all their practices against Caesar, came and brought him a little bill, written with his own hand, of all that he meant to tell him.

⁴¹ He, marking how Caesar received all the supplications that were offered him, and that he gave them straight to his men that were about him, pressed nearer to him, and said: " Caesar, read this memorial to yourself, and that quickly, for they be matters of great weight, and touch you nearly." ⁴² Caesar took it of him, but could never read it, though he many times attempted it, for the number of people that did salute him: but holding it still in his hand, keeping it to himself, went on withal into the Senate-house.

⁴³ Howbeit others are of opinion, that it was some man else that gave him that memorial, and not Artemidorus, who did what he could all the way as he went to give it Caesar, but he was always repulsed by the people.

The Crime Scene

⁴⁴ LXVI. For these things, they may seem to come by chance; but the place where the murther was prepared, and where the Senate were assembled, and where also there stood up an image of Pompey dedicated by himself amongst other ornaments which he gave unto the theatre, all these were manifest proofs, that it was the ordinance of some god that made this treason to be executed, specially in that very place.

⁴⁵ It is also reported, that Cassius (though otherwise he did favor the doctrine of Epicurus) beholding the image of Pompey, before they entered into the action of their traitorous enterprise, he did softly call upon it to aid him: but the instant danger of the present time, taking away his former reason, did suddenly put him into a furious passion, and made him like a man half besides himself.

⁴⁶ Now Antonius, that was a faithful friend to Caesar, and a valiant man besides of his hands, him Decius Brutus Albinus entertained out of the Senate-house, having begun a long tale of set purpose. ⁴⁷ So Caesar coming into the house, all the Senate stood up on their feet to do him honor."^¹

The Death of Julius Caesar

⁴⁸ "As Caesar took his seat, the conspirators gathered around him on the pretext of presenting a petition."^²

⁴⁹ "Then part of Brutus' company and confederates stood round about Caesar's chair, and part of them also came towards him, as though they made suit with Metellus Cimber, to call home his brother again from banishment: and thus prosecuting still their suit, they followed Caesar till he was set in his chair. ⁵⁰ Who denying their petitions, and being offended with them one after another, because the more they were denied the more they pressed upon him and were the earnester with him, ⁵¹ Metellus at length, taking his gown with both his hands, pulled it over his neck, which was the sign given the confederates to set upon him."^¹

⁵² Metellus "then took hold of his purple toga and ripped it away from his neck."^²

Casca the first that struck at Caesar.

⁵³ "Then Casca, behind him, strake him in the neck with his sword; howbeit the wound was not great nor mortal, because it seemed the fear of such a devilish attempt did amaze him and take his strength from him, that he killed him not at the first blow.

⁵⁴ But Caesar, turning straight unto him, caught hold of his sword and held it hard; and they both cried out, Caesar in Latin: " O vile traitor Casca, what doest thou?" and Casca, in Greek, to his brother: "Brother, help me."

⁵⁵ At the beginning of this stir, they that were present, not knowing of the conspiracy, were so amazed with the horrible sight they saw, they had no power to fly, neither to help him, nor so much as once to make an outcry.

⁵⁶ They on the other side that had conspired his death compassed him in on every side with their swords drawn in their hands, that Caesar turned him no where but he was stricken at by some, and still had naked swords in his face, and was hackled and mangled among them, as a wild beast taken of hunters.

⁵⁷ For it was agreed among them that every man should give him a wound, because all their parts should be in this murther: and then Brutus himself gave him one wound about his privities."^¹

⁵⁸ As the frenzy unraveled, "A dagger was thrust (by Casca) at Caesar's throat but missed and only wounded him. ⁵⁹ Another assassin then drove a dagger into his chest as he twisted away from the first assailant. ⁶⁰ Brutus struck Caesar in the groin (a telling blow, perhaps, given that his mother Servilia once had been Caesar's mistress). ⁶¹ Hemmed in, "Caesar kept turning," writes Appian, "from one to another of them with furious cries like a wild beast." ⁶² When he saw that Brutus, too, had drawn his dagger, Plutarch relates that Caesar simply covered his head with his toga and sank to the ground."^²

Caesar slain, and had 23 wounds upon him.

⁶³ "Men report also, that Caesar did still defend himself against the rest, running every way with his body: but when he saw Brutus with his sword drawn in his hand, then he pulled his gown over his head, and made no more resistance, and was driven either casually or purposedly, by the counsel of the conspirators, against the base whereupon Pompey's image stood, which ran all of a gore-blood till he was slain.

⁶⁴ Thus it seemed that the image took just revenge of Pompey's enemy, being thrown down on the ground at his feet, and yielding up the ghost there, for the number of wounds he had upon him.

⁶⁵ For it is reported, that he had three and twenty wounds upon his body: and divers of the conspirators did hurt themselves, striking one body with so many blows."^¹

⁶⁶ "Although Suetonius records that Caesar died "uttering not a word," some, he says, had written that Brutus was reproached in Greek with the words Kai su, teknon, "You, too, my child?" ⁶⁷ It was these words that Shakespeare would later present in Latin as Et tu, Brute.

⁶⁸ Even though the second wound later was thought to have been fatal, the conspirators continued to strike at Caesar, at times cutting one another with their own daggers, until they, too, were covered in blood.

⁶⁹ Slumped against the pedestal of Pompey's statue, Caesar died, having been stabbed twenty-three times. ⁷⁰ "The pedestal was drenched with blood," writes Plutarch, "so that one might have thought that Pompey himself was presiding over this act of vengeance against his enemy, who lay there at his feet struggling convulsively under so many wounds.""^²

The Aftermath

⁷¹ "If the conspirators had killed in the name of Republican libertas, in practice they acted for the liberty of the Optimates themselves. ⁷² There was to be no popular support for the deed.

⁷³ To Appian, at least, "The Republic has been rotten for a long time. ⁷⁴ The city masses are now thoroughly mixed with foreign blood, the freed slave has the same rights as a citizen, and those who are still slaves look no different from their masters."

⁷⁴ It was as if the death of the tyrant alone was sufficient for the conspirators, with no thought being given to what would happen as a consequence. ⁷⁵ It all had been planned, relates Cicero, with the "courage of men and the foresight of children." ⁷⁶ But the res publica would not be restored.

⁷⁷ The only outcome was what Caesar himself had predicted: "It is more important for Rome," Suetonius quotes him as saying, "than for myself that I should survive...should anything happen to me, Rome will enjoy no peace." ⁷⁸ And so it was: civil war would rage for another thirteen years."^²

⁷⁹ "LXVII. When Caesar was slain, the Senate (though Brutus stood in the middest amongst them, as though he would have said something touching this fact) presently ran out of the house, and flying, filled all the city with marvelous fear and tumult.

⁸⁰ Insomuch as some did shut to the doors, others forsook their shops and warehouses, and others ran to the place to see what the matter was: and others also that had seen it ran home to their houses again. ⁸¹ But Antonius and Lepidus, which were two of Caesar's chiefest friends, secretly conveying themselves away, fled into other men's houses and forsook their own.

The murderers of Caesar do go to the market-place.

⁸² Brutus and his confederates on the other side, being yet hot with this murther they had committed, having their swords drawn in their hands, came all in a troup together out of the Senate and went into the market-place, not as men that made countenance to fly, but otherwise boldly holding up their heads like men of courage, and called to the people to defend their liberty, and stayed to speak with every great personage whom they met in their way.

⁸³ Of them, some followed this troup and went amongst them, as if they had been of the conspiracy, and falsely challenged part of the honor with them: amongst them was Caius Octavius and Lentulus Spinther.

⁸⁴ But both of them were afterwards put to death for their vain covetousness of honor, by Antonius and Octavius Caesar the younger; and yet had no part of that honor for the which they were both put to death, neither did any man believe that they were any of the confederates or of counsel with them. ⁸⁵ For they that did put them to death took revenge rather of the will they had to offend than of any fact they had committed.

⁸⁶ The next morning, Brutus and his confederates came into the market-place to speak unto the people, who gave them such audience, that it seemed they neither greatly reproved nor allowed the fact: for by their great silence they showed that they were sorry for Caesar's death, and also that they did reverence Brutus.

Caesar's funerals.

⁸⁷ Now the Senate granted general pardon for all that was past; and, to pacify every man, ordained besides, that Caesar's funerals should be honored as a god, and established all things that he had done, and gave certain provinces also and convenient honors unto Brutus and his confederates, whereby every man thought all things were brought to good peace and quietness again."^¹

RIP Gaius Julius Caesar

⁸⁸ "Gaius Julius Caesar was dead, having lived for fifty-five years. ⁸⁹ His body was burned in a great pyre in the Forum, the site commemorated by the altar in front of the Temple of Divine Julius. ⁹⁰ Residing still at Caesar's garden villa across the Tiber, Cleopatra hurriedly returned to Egypt, together with Caesar's purported son Caesarion.

⁹¹ Augustus later would remove the statue of Pompey and have the Curia walled up, never to be used again by the Senate. ⁹² The assassins were condemned to death under the law of Pedius (Caesar's nephew), and would be hunted down and killed, "visiting with retribution all, without exception," says Plutarch. ⁹³ Three hundred senators and two thousand equites eventually would die as well, including Cicero, his head and hands, with which he written his invective Philippics against Antony, displayed on the Rostra.

⁹⁴ According to Dio, it was Antony, the most implacable member of the Second Triumvirate (Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus), who carried out the retributions. ⁹⁵ He "killed savagely and mercilessly, not only those whose names had been proscribed, but likewise those who had attempted to assist any of them." ⁹⁶ Dio relates the poignancy of the proscriptions: "Many perished at the hands of their dearest friends, and many were saved by their bitterest enemies. ⁹⁷ Some slew themselves, and others were released by the very men who came upon them to murder them. ⁹⁸ Some who betrayed masters or friends were punished, and others were honoured for this very reason." ⁹⁹ And, since the members of the Triumvirate had their own friends and enemies, there were complications, "each having often occasion to desire earnestly that the life of a man be spared whom one of the others wished to destroy, or, on the other hand, that a man be put to death whom one of the others wished to have survive."

¹⁰⁰ Both Brutus and Cassius eventually would take their own lives, Cassius with the very dagger that he had used in the assassination. ¹⁰¹ Although Caesar had spared them, they did not spare Caesar.

¹⁰² "A millennium and a half later, Shakespeare has Antony speak in one of the finest examples of rhetorical irony:

¹⁰³ The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious.
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answered it....
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me.
But Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill.
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar has wept.
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse.
Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And sure he is an honorable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause.
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?

Julius Caesar (III.2)"^²

EPILOGUE (Ch.2)

DEATH OF THE REPUBLIC
BIRTH OF THE EMPIRE

¹⁰⁴ The Roman Republic under Gaius Julius Caesar promised prosperity for all Roman citizens. ¹⁰⁵ Having no children of his own, Caesar has adopted a few out of noble families, and willed his vast gardens and fortune to the people. ¹⁰⁶ In order to be more effective against the rise of other kingdoms and empires, Caesar has consolidated the power in his hands as the dictator of Roman Republic while all along refusing to become the king formally thus it became a point of much debates and speculations.

¹⁰⁷ After the assassination of Caesar, Augustus Octavius has used the power gained by Caesar to farther consolidate it into the official imperial crown of Rome, thus transforming the Roman Republic of equal citizens, where Caesar was referred to as being 'first amongst equals', into the Roman empire under absolute god-like power of the emperor, Augustus.

¹⁰⁸ Now this radical change didn't get unnoticed by the people of the Republic who were left pondering about what kingdom if any was part of their lot if all of Rome is now owned by one emperor. ¹⁰⁹ Where does it leave them?

¹¹⁰ Emperor Augustus, not being a fool, has then instructed his scribes to write about his "fantastic" news that the poor / meek shalt inherit the kingdom yet to come, i.e. in the afterlife. ¹¹¹ This "fantastic" news became known as the evangelion in Greek which in turn became the gospels.

~○~

Z REFERENCES

^¹ https://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/doc/Plutarch_Caesar/section/63/index.html

^² https://penelope.uchicago.edu/encyclopaedia_romana/calendar/ides.html#anchor27371

^² References: Caesar: A Biography (1982) by Christian Meier; Caesar: Politician and Statesman (1968) by Matthias Gelzer; Plutarch: The Parallel Lives (1919) translated by Bernadotte Perrin (Loeb Classical Library); Appian: The Civil Wars (1913) translated by Horace White (Loeb Classical Library); Livy: The History of Rome (1912) translated by Canon Roberts; Suetonius: The Lives of the Twelve Caesars (1913) translated by J. C. Rolfe (Loeb Classical Library); Dio's Roman History (1916) translated by Earnest Cary (Loeb Classical Library).

See also the Portico of Pompeii, the scene of Caesar's assassination, and the Temple of Divine Julius, the location of his funeral pyre.

(... will continue)

SUPPLEMENTARY

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Obviously the main focus is on peace, the truth of peace, and the love of peace. It's all about peace. The Evangelion of Peace. Pax Mundi. That's my focus. Anything else is optional. Yah this Yah that, not convincing, it has to be rooted in something first to be the Yah of, peace.

Exodus 15:3 states, "The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name". That may be so, however what are Yah fighting for other than peace yee Lord God of War. Obviously war is a condition of peace, the lack thereof hence why the fighting ensues; to establish truth, love, and peace.

https://steemit.com/genesis/@theuniverse.name/g-e-n-e-s-i-s

https://steemit.com/historical/@theuniverse.name/historical-bible

https://steemit.com/biblical/@theuniverse.name/biblical-terms-and-definitions

https://steemit.com/new/@theuniverse.name/new-evangelion-of-matthew

EVANGELION OF JOHN
https://steemit.com/new/@theuniverse.name/new-new-testament

   ♡

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