Thread by @DocCrom

Ancient Artefact of the Day: The Relief of Cleopatra VII and Caesarion at the Dendera Temple.

Caesarion, the son of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, is thought to have been born on this day - 23 June - in 47 BC. #AAOTD #Caesarion

Image: Wikimedia Commons

The birth of Caesarion was a major event in the ancient world, and one that quickly became one of great political significance, as he was a figure who could - in theory - unify Rome and Egypt. Thus the issue of his legitimacy became key.

"Indeed M. Antonius confirmed to the senate that [Caesarion] had been acknowledged by [Caesar] and that C. Matius and C. Oppius knew this along with the rest of Caesar’s friends" (Suetonius, Divine Julius 52).

The fact that Mark Antony felt it necessary to make such a claim...

...reinforces the significance of Caesarion's status. However, equally, counter-claims were made: "Oppius, on the grounds that this matter needed some explanation and defence, published a book saying that he was not Caesar’s son as Cleopatra claims" (ibid.).

Certainly, within Egypt there was little doubt of his status, as the Dendera relief shows. Caesarion, wearing the pschent (the double crown of Egypt), is shown as equal in stature to Cleopatra, who herself appears in divine guise.

On coinage, the two are also united, with a double cornucopia on the Reverse to suggest prosperity. But here it is believed that Cleopatra has chosen to present herself as Aphrodite (Venus) and Caesarion as Eros, thus linking them with the heritage of Caesar.

Image: RPC 1.3901

So significant a figure as Caesarion was always likely to suffer harm, especially in the aftermath of Octavian's victory in the Civil Wars. As Caesar's nephew (and adopted son) Octavian could not endure the threat to his status that Caesarion was.

Thus, unlike the children of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, who were spared, Caesarion was executed by Octavian. Plutarch (Life of Antony 81) records the advice that Octavian was given:

"It is not a good thing to have many Caesars.”

For more on Caesarion and his significance, see:

GRAY-FOW, MICHAEL. “WHAT TO DO WITH CAESARION.” Greece & Rome, vol. 61, no. 1, 2014, pp. 38–67.

jstor.org/stable/43297487

#AAOTD #Caesarion