C^SAR
303
OBSAREA PHILIPPI
answer; for this cause left I the feast." " But you shall sing to me." " What," asked Caedmon, "shall I sing?" "Sing the beginning of created things." In the morning he told his dream to Hilda, the abbess of Whitby, and he put into verse for her a part of the Scriptures. Men believed him to be inspired. "Others after him strove to compose religious poems, but none could vie with him, for he learned the art of poetry, not from men, but from God." He was educated and became a monk, spending the remainder of his life writing poems on the Bible histories and on other religious subjects. He died about 680 A. D. Some of his poetry still exists.
Caesar (se'zer), Augustus. See Au GU STU s.
Caesar, Gaius Julius, was born July 12, 100 B. C., of a noble Roman family. He studied at Rhodes to improve his eloquence, and, returning to Rome, threw himself earnestly into public life. Joining Pompey, who was then acting with the popular party, he passed rapidly through the different grades of office. He was quaestor in Spain; as curule aedile he increased his popularity by lavishing vast sums of money on public buildings and games; as praetor he was accused of being concerned in the famous conspiracy of Catiline, but probably unjustly. Wnile consul, with rare tact and wisdom he reconciled the two most powerful men in Rome, Pompey and Crassus, and formed an alliance with them, known in history as the first triumvirate. At the close of his consulship he obtained the province of Cisalpine Gaul and the senate added that of Transalpine Gaul for five years, which were later increased to ten years. In this field Caesar conducted during the next nine years some of the most wonderful campaigns in history, which alone would have given him an abiding name. In seven successive campaigns he subdued the Hel-vetii, killing over 150,000 of them, a number of German tribes, the Belgic tribes, the Veneti and other tribes; twice invaded Britain; built a bridge across the Rhine; and closed his brilliant course by crushing a wide-spread rebellion of the whole of Gaul. Twice during this time a thanksgiving was decreed to him by the senate, one for 15 days and the other for 20, an honor never before granted to any general. He now was the most popular man in Rome, and had an army enthusiastically devoted to their victorious leader. But Crassus was now dead, and Pompey, jealous of the power of Caesar, had veered around to the party of the senate. Caesar was ordered to disband his army, but, knowing that this meant his political ruin, he refused, and, crossing the Rubicon (a small stream which separated his province from Italy proper), moved swiftly amid the acclamations of the people toward
Rome. Pompey and the senate fled to Greece, and in three months Caesar was master of Italy. Pompey's legates in Spain were soon conquered, and by the famous battle of Pharsalia, 48 B. C., Pompey's powerful army was utterly routed. Fom-pey himself fled to Egypt where he was murdered. Caesar next settled the affairs of Egypt, and defeated the generals of Pompey in Africa. His power was now absolute, but he did not use it for bad purposes, as previous conquerors had done, but, declaring that he had no enemies, gave himself to curing the social evils which had been so long rife in the republic. He was called the "Father of His Country" and "Imperator," from which comes the modern title of Emperor, and was made dictator for life. His person was declared sacred and even divine; his statues were placed in the temples; his portrait was struck on the coins; the month Quintilius was named Julius in his honor. He began many reforms, but was cut off in the midst of his work by assassins, and Rome was again plunged into civil war. Brutus and Cassius, both of whom had received favors from Caesar, and a band of conspirators fell upon the great dictator in the senate house. At first he defended himself, but when he saw Brutus with a dagger in his hand, he cried Et tu, Brute? (Thou, too, Brutus?), wrapped his cloak about him, and fell pierced with 23 wounds at the foot of the statue of Pompey. He died at Rome, aged 56, in 44 B. C. Caesar was one of the greatest men that ever lived. In everything he excelled. He not only was the first general and statesman of his age, but he was its greatest orator, except Cicero. He also was a great historian and scholar.
Caesarea (sez-a-re'a), now called by the natives Kaisarieh, was once a proud and splendid seaport. It stood on the coast of Syria, 13 miles north of Joppa. Built by Herod about 22 B. C., it was named in honor of Augustus Caesar. It was a Greek town, with its temples, amphitheatre and baths, imported into Syria. A mole in a half circle, built of large blocks of stone, protected the port on the north and west, within which a fleet might ride in safety. It was held by the crusaders, who built a cathedral here. Afterward the city fell into decay, and is now a heap of half-buried ruins, with a few miserable stone houses inhabited by fishermen. There is a small, open harbor.
CaesareaPhilippi, a city mentioned in the New Testament, stood about 95 miles north of Jerusalem, near the source of the Jordan. The name Philippe was given in honor of Philip the Tetrarch, who repaired the city. It is now a heap of ruins. On its site is a small village called Paneas or Banias.
