History Extra podcast How Julius Caesar's funeral drama fuelled the mob
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Oct 9, 2025 Jessica Clarke, a specialist in ancient Roman theatre and Shortland Jones Rome Scholar, dives into the dramatic events surrounding Julius Caesar's funeral. She explores how Mark Antony crafted the ceremony into a powerful political spectacle, using theatrical tactics to sway public opinion. Clarke discusses the chaos that followed Caesar's assassination and the strategic restraint exhibited by Antony. The funeral transformed into a mob action, demonstrating the profound impact of performance in shaping political narratives in ancient Rome.
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Funeral As Political Theatre
- Mark Antony turned Caesar's funeral into a political event to win public support rather than immediate revenge.
- He used staged performances and a crafted eulogy to shape popular opinion before acting.
Dramatic Account Of The Assassination
- Ancient sources dramatise Caesar's assassination with omens, a Senate ambush and Brutus' involvement.
- Caesar's body was taken home by slaves and carried through the streets in a subdued procession.
Why Antony Delayed Violence
- Chaos followed the assassination and Antony chose calculated political action over immediate violence.
- He aimed to win popular approval and exile the conspirators using staged public events.
