Rome’s tourists can now visit the spot where Caesar was killed
Julius Caesar’s Assassination, La morte di Cesare by Vincenzo Camuccini. Vincenzo Camuccini, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, {PD-US-expired}.
“Beware the ides of March,” wrote Shakespeare about the day of Julius Caesar’s assassination. Now, over 2,000 years later, tourists can finally visit the site of this infamous killing, which set off a series of events leading to the end of the Roman Republic. While tourists had previously been able to see the site from a distance, the newly accessible square is sure to become an instant attraction.
FREE ebook. The Olympic Games: How They All Began. Read about the ancient origins of the Olympics, some 2,700 years ago. Download now.
Known as the Largo di Torre Argentina, the site of Julius Caesar’s assassination was uncovered by archaeologists in 1926 during construction work but has remained largely off-limits to visitors. Now, after considerable work to make the area accessible, tourists and history buffs alike can explore the ancient square, located several feet beneath the modern city of Rome. The area includes the remains of four Republican-era temples as well as part of the theater of Pompey, a one-time rival and friend of Caesar.
Famously portrayed in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 BCE in the Curia of Pompey, a meeting hall of the senate at the entrance to the theater of Pompey. Carrying out a wide-reaching political coup, around 60 Roman senators—including some of Caesar’s closest allies—stabbed him nearly two dozen times. Julius Caesar’s assassination would start a civil war and spell the end of the Roman Republic. The aftermath of the civil war would see the incorporation of much of the eastern reaches of the Mediterranean, including Egypt and Judea, into the Roman Empire.
A Rare Look at the Jewish Catacombs of Rome
Not a BAS Library or All-Access Member yet? Join today.
Sign up to receive our email newsletter and never miss an update.
Become an All-Access Member to explore the Bible's rich history. Get Biblical Archaeology Review in print, full online access, and FREE online talks. Plus, enjoy special Travel/Study discounts. Don't miss out—begin your journey today!