JULIUS CASAR.
After he had attained the supreme power, the senate allowed him to place his own portrait on coins—a pri vilege which had never before been enjoyed by any other individual in his lifetime. He appears with a lank countenance, and a bald head ; on which last account he was permitted to cover his forehead with a wreath of laurel. Plate CCCCXXI. Fig. 5.
His titles were the following: 1. PONTIFEX MAXI mvs, an honour which Ile purchased by the distribution of immense sums of money among the people. 2. IM PERATOR. This title he bore, both on account of the victories he had achieved, and as possessing- the highest authority in the republic. Even during the period of the commonwealth, a general, when Ile obtained a vic tory, received the title of Imperator immediately upon the field of battle. When frequently victorious, he Ivas called Imperator iterum, tertium, quartum, Ste. The successors of Julius Cxsar adopted the title in both of its significations. 3. Cos. i. e. Conan/. In the year in
which he was assassinated, Ile was consul for the fifth time. 4. DICTATOR. This most distinguished honour was conferred upon him by the senate after the battle of Pharsalia. In the last year of his life, he was acknow ledged as DICTATOR PERPETUO. 5. PARENS PATRI/E.
This flattering title was also conferred upon him by the the senate. Hence, his assassins Were called Paricidx) and the Ides of March, the day on which he was mur dered, Parricidium.
The head of Venus.) (CiEsAR. ..Eneas holding in one hand the Palladium, or image of Pallas, and with thc other his father Anchises on his shoulders. Plate CCCCXXI. Fig. 6: The Julian family at Romc claimed their descent from Julus, or Ascanius, the son of Emeas, whose grandmother was Venus ; hence Julius Caesar alway: carried the portrait of Venus in his ring ; and on the day of the battle of Pharsalia, his watch-word was Venus victrix.