- cross-posted to:
- roughromanmemes
- cross-posted to:
- roughromanmemes
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That whole story is worth reading about.
The pirates captured Caesar and demanded 20 talents. He laughed at them and said that they should have demanded at least 50 talents for such a high value prisoner. He then sent his people off to collect the money and return to pay it while he waited with the pirates.
Then the info in the meme happened. While in captivity for over a month, he acted like he was in charge of the pirates, and kept threatening to have them all crucified. They thought he was joking, or crazy.
38 days into captivity, his people returned with the ransom and paid the pirates, who released Caesar and sent him on his way. Caesar arrived in Asia, where he had no authority or money, and managed to raise an army to hunt down the pirates. He found the pirates still camped out on the same island where they released him.
They were arrested and brought to the governor of that part of Asia. The governor wasn’t sure how to punish the pirates, so Caesar took it upon himself to go to the prison and have every last one crucified.
They were arrested and brought to the governor of that part of Asia. The governor wasn’t sure how to punish the pirates, so Caesar took it upon himself to go to the prison and have every last one crucified.
By some accounts, Caesar had their throats cut first, as an act of mercy - because they’d humored him in captivity. A little politeness… may not save your life, but it’ll save you a few days of agony, at least.
I’m curious if you know of any sources for the story that don’t ultimately coalesce back to Caesar’s autobiography? While super interesting and invaluable, there’s no denying that book has a certain purpose and a tendency for self-aggrandizement.
Caesar doesn’t actually mention the pirate incident in his Commentarii! Suetonius and Plutarch both do though.
Interesting. Of course, their being early Imperial writers just kicks the propaganda can down the road a bit (LOL), but I’d say it makes it somewhat more likely that something happened.
for bison, it was tuesday
I’ll crucify you all once I’m freed
Ah good old Julius and his hilarious jokes. Wait, what are all those nails for?
mostly to leave in England
