Page 31 - History of War - Issue 05-14

Caesar’s CULTURAL LEGACY

More than 2,000 years after his death, Julius Caesar is of Rome’s greatest son ever since. In it, he is depicted as complexities and contradictions of this extraordinary
still a household name – and the subject of numerous ambitious, vain and stubborn. A man with an unbreakable man. His character has inspired hundreds of films over
TV programmes, films and stage plays. His enduring belief in his own abilities, and place in eternity. This the years and has been adapted for everything from
appeal stems not only from the staggering achievements confidence is, of course, his downfall. Believing his own blaxploitation flicks and gangster movies to comedies.
of his lifetime – here, after all, was a leader who left a hype, he mistakenly presumes that his immortal image The earliest film about him dates back to 1909, and since
blood-stained mark on the pages of history as diabolical will save his mortal self. That said, by the play’s end – then he’s been played by everyone from Kenneth Williams
as Genghis Khan or Adolf Hitler – but also from his as in life – Caesar’s influence reaches beyond the grave to John Gielgud. In the digital age, too, his name endures
intoxicating and overpowering personality. He had the to bring about the demise of the Republic and the birth and he can be found populating big video-game franchises
ability to lead, inspire and enchant those who followed of the monarchy when Octavius is crowned Emperor. such as Civilization Revolution, Fallout and Assassin’s
him, so it makes sense that his tumultuous life has been, His other great depiction is in George Bernard Shaw’s Creed. The name Julius Caesar, as he probably pointed out,
and continues to be, explored in the arts. 1898 play Caesar And Cleopatra. Here, he is portrayed as will live forever.
Most famously, Caesar is celebrated in Shakespeare’s universal man – wiser than those around him and unafraid
1599 work The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar, which specifically to accept new cultures, loves or experiences – while his
explores the power struggle that took place at the end of fellow Romans are painted as unthinking and brutish.
his dominance, and his murder at the hands of Brutus’ These two landmark works have arguably had more
mob. It’s been performed countless times down the influence on representations of Caesar than any
centuries, and has perhaps set the blueprint for portrayals other in the modern era, both of them highlighting the

This illustration depicts an
early production of William
iStock Shakespeare’s tragedy Julius Caesar

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