“He was a consul of Rome” etc, etc

    by ChiefsHat

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    1. Context: After his defeat by Caesar, his former colleague, Pompey fled to Egypt for safety – and upon arrival, was murdered by three men; Lucius Septimius, Achillas and a man named Savius. This was done on the orders of Ptolmey XIII Theos Philopator, with the end goal of gaining Caesar’s favor.

      When Caesar arrived, he was gifted Pompey’s head. His response? Well, according to Plutarch, he was horrified and couldn’t even look at the head, crying when presented with his signet ring. Caesar himself called it murder in his writings, while not being as dramatic in his reaction. Afterward, he gave Pompey a proper funeral, honoring the life and legacy of his former friend turned rival. It’s speculated Caesar intended to forgive Pompey and bring him back into the fold. Some believe his reaction was largely performative, but personally, I think Caesar was horrified because the two had such a close relationship before becoming enemies. It’s a fascinating look into his mind.

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