HistoryExtra Long Reads

Julius Caesar's funeral drama

7 snips
Aug 10, 2025
The podcast dives into the dramatic events surrounding Julius Caesar's assassination and his emotionally charged funeral. Hear how theatrical performances were meticulously crafted to ignite public outrage against his killers. The discussion reveals Mark Antony's brilliant orchestration of the funeral, where drama and politics converged. It highlights the chaos that ensued, showing how a single event triggered a wave of violence and unrest in Rome, all framed within classical tragedy's echoes.
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INSIGHT

Stage Suicide Ignited Public Outrage

  • A staged Ajax suicide at Caesar's funeral provoked intense pity and anger.
  • The performance made the crowd equate Ajax's fate with Caesar's murder.
INSIGHT

Antony Engineered Theatrical Propaganda

  • Mark Antony planned a spectacular funeral to win popular support.
  • He used plays to fan hatred against Caesar's assassins.
INSIGHT

Funeral Shows Began With The Etruscans

  • Funeral spectacles trace back to Etruscan ritual practices and games.
  • Over centuries Romans expanded these into lavish theatrical processions.
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