Who is Julius Caesar?
Julius Caesar was arguably the greatest of the dictators of Rome, ruling from 49 BCE to 44 BCE. During his brief reign Rome was transformed from a Republic into an Empire, and he set the path that Rome was to follow until its decline and eventual collapse. Julius Caesar was born in 100 BCE to an elite family, and from an early age had the benefit of high education and training. Julius Caesar’s family traced its lineage back to Aeneas of Troy, and through him to the goddess Venus. The origin of his surname, Caesar, is unknown, with a number of different theories offering explanations. These include the fact that he killed an elephant, that he had a full head of hair, that his eyes were gray, or that he was born by caesarian section, all of which are described by words similar in sound to Caesar. After a brief stint as a high priest of Jupiter, Julius Caesar joined the military. He quickly made a name for himself as a brave soldier and cunning commander. While serving in the military, on
