Καῖσαρ
Caesar
Translated by Catharine Roth18 Sep 2000Vetting: high6 revisions
Translation
The emperors of the Romans1 receive this name from Julius Caesar,2 the one who was not born [sc. in the conventional way]. For when his mother [Aurelia] died in the ninth month, they cut her open, took him out, and named him thus; for in the Roman tongue dissection is called "Caesar".3
"Among the Romans of old the people ruled, then the few, and finally the Roman state turned into monarchy, from the time when the first Caesar became sole ruler and emperor. The state continued free from faction until Marcus Antoninus was ruling the Romans;4 but when his son Commodus, who was not at all sound of mind by nature and became subject to love of pleasure, and was not at all good in war and too fond of staying alive, was slain treacherously by certain men,5 rebellions became very frequent."6
"Among the Romans of old the people ruled, then the few, and finally the Roman state turned into monarchy, from the time when the first Caesar became sole ruler and emperor. The state continued free from faction until Marcus Antoninus was ruling the Romans;4 but when his son Commodus, who was not at all sound of mind by nature and became subject to love of pleasure, and was not at all good in war and too fond of staying alive, was slain treacherously by certain men,5 rebellions became very frequent."6