Impietas G. Juliusza Cezara

Artykuł poświęcony jest oskarżeniom G. Juliusza Cezara o impietas. Zarzuty kierowane pod adresem dyktatora obejmowały: niewiarę w życie pozagrobowe i karę po śmierci, naruszenie sacrosanctitas trybunów ludowych, znieważenie świątyni Jowisza na Kapitolu, w której umieszczono posąg wodza w kwadrydze, oraz świątyni Kwirynusa, gdzie złożono portret Cezara z napisem „bogu niezwyciężonemu” (Deo invicto), a także violatio luci (wycięcie świętego gaju w okolicy Marsylii), działania contra auspicia w 59 roku p.n.e., wywołanie wojny domowej, uznawanej za bellum impium, oraz impietas pośmiertne (Parentalia i supplicationes ku czci Cezara).

The declining years of the Republic brought many transformations and the development of new political, social and religious ideologies. Gaius Julius Caesar was indisputably one of the greatest religious “innovators” in this period. In this context, accusations of impietas against Caesar, leveled by his adversaries, are characteristic. They can be divided into several categories:—— negation of the existence of the gods: this accusation concerned Caesar’s statement during the Catilinarian trials that death brought rest rather than agony; that beyond death there was no more worry or joy. Marcus Porcius Cato accused Caesar of the lack of belief in the afterlife and in punishment after death;—— violations of the sacrosanctitas of the tribunes of the people Epidius Marullus and Caesetius Flavus, whom Caesar deprived of power;—— profanatio templi, connected with the placing of the statute of the commander (Caesar) in the quadriga on the Capitoline Hill, with the globe at Caesar’s feet, and a picture bearing the inscription “To Invincible God” (Deo invicto), which was put in the Quirinus temple;—— violatio luci: Caesar was accused of cutting down the “holy grove” near Marseille;—— contra auspicia: Caesar was accused of ignoring the observation of the sky in 59 BCE and obnuntiatio of Bibulus;—— bella impia: the main charge was that of triggering the civil war, which was explicitly called: bellum impium, scelerum, nefandum, and, furthermore, supplicationes, ovatio and triumphus were not allowed for victories;—— posthumous impietas: Caesar was commemorated by special Parentalia and supplicationes, which Cicero regarded as “inexpiabiles religiones”.