![\"July](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2014\/07\/1024px-Sousse_mosaic_calendar_Juli.jpg\")
<\/a>July panel from a Roman mosaic of the months (from El Djem, Tunisia, first half of 3rd century AD).
Courtesy of WikiCommons & Ad Meskens<\/p><\/div>\n
The month of July, formerly known as\u00a0Quintilis, <\/em>was the fifth month or quintus\u00a0mensis <\/em>\u00a0of the Roman calendar.* Quintilis <\/em> was renamed July after Julius Caesar in 43 BCE; this was done after Julius Caesar’s death as an honorary gesture by his adopted son and nephew Octavian or Augustus Caesar. The reason that Quintilis <\/em> was picked for Julius Caesar is due to the fact that this was the month in which Julius Caesar had been born.<\/p>\n *For more information on the names of days and months of the Roman calendar, see our earlier post here<\/a>.<\/p>\n CAESAR COMES FROM….<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Courtesy of Wikicommons, Alexander R, and CNG Coins.<\/p><\/div>\n Many people know of Julius Caesar, but not many know how or where he obtained the cognomen “Caesar.” One historian postulated that it was due to the fact that one of his ancestors was born via caesarean section. The term caesarean probably derives from the Latin verb caedere <\/em>“to cut” or its perfect (past) stem caes<\/span>-. <\/em> The famous Historia Augusta<\/em> suggests three interesting proposals:<\/p>\n The latter point is considered to be one that Julius Caesar agreed or favored since there have been many discoveries of coin depicting Caesar’s name and elephants.<\/p>\n CAESAR THE PRIEST?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Flamines, (Flamen being one priest and the highest one; flamines meaning many and usually comprising of those of less authority) distinguished by their pointed headdress, as part of a procession on the Augustan Altar of Peace. Courtesy of Wikicommons and WolfgangRieger.<\/p><\/div>\n According to Paterculus’ Roman History, <\/em>Julius Caesar was intended for a very different life. After the death of his father (85BCE), he was nominated by his uncle, Gaius Marius, and his political ally, Cinna, to be the new high priest of Jupiter or Flamen Dialis<\/em>.** However, he was striped of this title and other honors following Sulla’s victory, because Sulla was Marius rival during\u00a0a civil war. Could you imagine if he had been a priest?<\/p>\n ** The extreme honors and restrictions of this position can be found here<\/a>, and they are discussed at length.<\/p>\n IT’S THE PIRATES LIFE FOR ME!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The traditional “Jolly Roger” of piracy. Around the late 80’s and early 70’s BCE, Caesar was kidnapped by Cilician pirates and held prisoner. It is reported by Plutarch that Caesar maintained a haughty sense\u00a0of superiority throughout his captivity.\u00a0 For example, when the pirates demanded a ransom of twenty talents (measurement explained here<\/a>)\u00a0of silver, he insisted they ask for fifty. After that ransom was paid, Caesar was bent on revenge. He raised a fleet, pursued and\u00a0seized the pirates, and imprisoned them. However, his revenged was not done there; he had them crucified\u00a0( as he had promised while in captivity…a promise the pirates had taken as a joke).\u00a0 This chapter of Caesar of life has actually been taken as a topic for a\u00a0Hollywood film! (More details on the film and its collaborators here<\/a>).<\/p>\n THE MOVIES GOT IT <\/span><\/strong>ALL <\/span><\/strong>WRONG<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The following clip is from HBO’s Rome series and it depicts the death of Caesar. WARNING: It may be a bit graphic from some.<\/p>\n<\/a>\n
<\/a><\/a>
Courtesy of WikiCommons, Edward England, Manuel Strehl, and WarX.<\/p><\/div>\n