Issue 11: Of March Ides & Majestic Ireland
Or, alternatively, Julius Caesar and some lovely photos from Dublin.
Aye, I know it’s been a little while since I’ve written. So, thank you for your patience and checking back in! It wasn’t due to lack of energy or motivation, but, rather, wanting to ensure I’m writing something worthwhile.
This month, some kind authors have asked me to read some incredible works, and I’m excited to be taking part in a book tour next week. From there, reviews will be posted across Goodreads, Amazon, The Bookish Historian website, Instagram, and here on Substack over the coming weeks.
Additionally, last week marks the annual Ides of March, better known as the day Julius Caesar received his comeuppance and a million internet memes were born.
Lastly, as last week also included St. Patrick’s Day, I wanted to share a few of my favorite photos from my trip to Dublin in 2018.
Ye Olde History: The Ides of March & Caesarean Portraiture
A group of disaffected senators assassinated the Roman dictator Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BCE as a result of his populist and authoritative reforms. History also recognizes this date as the Ides of March.
An immensely powerful politician and soldier, Caesar descended from an old patrician family and rose through the ranks of Roman politics, ultimately culminating in his ascension as "dictator for life" in 49 BCE. Historians more well-versed than me have written volumes on Caesar and his achievements (indeed, another book on my radar is Mary Beard’s exquisite SPQR). As such, I won’t dive into his history here. However, I (and hopefully you as well) can appreciate a couple images supposedly created from life.
Ancient biographer Suetonius, in his work "The Lives of the Twelve Caesars," described Caesar as "tall, of a fair complexion, round-limbed, rather full-faced, with eyes black and piercing."1
The marble bust of Caesar shown above seemingly contradicts this sentiment, however (though perhaps not at this particular angle, to be sure), with his bulging forehead; wrinkled, sagging jowls; and a receding hairline. Known as the Tusculum portrait, this bust is possibly the only extant portrait of Caesar created during his lifetime. Lucien Bonaparte excavated this statue in the Tusculum forum in 1825.
In doing research on the Tusculum portrait as part of this section (also posted on Instagram), I learned of another accepted artistic visage of Julius Caesar. Known as the Chiaramonti portrait bust, this portrait may have been executed during the reign of Caesar’s successor, Gaius Augustus.
You might notice this appears more stylized, with his rigid features, square (and not bulbous) face, and full head of hair. As Samantha Hughes-Johnson writes for the Italian Art Society:
Conversely, the Chiaramonti portrait bust, likely executed during the time that Augustus (Caesar’s nephew, adopted son and predecessor) held office, treats the viewer to a powerful and idealised experience. The facial lines that reflect the subject’s political gravitas, vast military experience and maturity are present, yet appear soft enough to suggest that age nor time could rob the divine sitter of physical power. Furthermore, the dramatically receding hairline, so evident in the Tusculum portrait bust, is barely noticeable in the Chiaramonti version.2
Alas, however, his magnificent physique failed to protect him from his senatorial detractors.
Bookish: Pericles and Aspasia
As I wrote on The Bookish Historian a week or so ago, I’ve geared up three books to read by the end of the month. The first one takes readers to ancient Greece under the reign of Pericles and his courtesan Aspasia. In her debut novel Pericles and Aspasia, author Yvonne Korshak offers a new rendering of this power couple, both important figures in Athenian history. Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BCE), an astute and intelligent statesman, takes upon himself the mantle of Athenian political and cultural development. He takes as his mistress the intriguing Aspasia. Originally from Miletus, Aspasia seeks refuge in Athens. Together, their love story will change history.
Drawing upon her travels and research, Yvonne Korshak promises to weave together a tantalizing and arresting story as strong as those woven by the mythical Fates of Greek mythology.
I’m participating in a promotional book tour over on Instagram once I finish this book. So please feel free to check out the TBH Instagram account for more information! I will also post a review soon.
Lastly, I finished Libby H. O’Connell’s The American Plate with a mixed response. I’m working on that review as we speak and should have that up in all its glorious forms by the end of the week as well!
Here’s to Celebratin’ the Irish in Me
Ancestry.com tells me I possess a wee bit o’Irish ancestry in me. To celebrate the Irish in me and in all of us, here are some of my favorite pictures from my first trip to Dublin in June 2018.
From left to right:
St. Stephen’s Green
Temple Bar
Temple Bar
The infamous Long Hall at Trinity College Dublin
Innumerable books line the shelves at Trinity College Dublin
A place at Kilmainham Gaol commemorating where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed within its walls
The medieval tower at Dublin Castle
I would dearly love to explore Ireland once again. Perhaps in a couple of years?
One Last Bit of News: TBH is Now a Business!
Aye, you read that correctly. I registered The Bookish Historian as a business in my state, and I finally received the approval. What does that mean? Not a whole lot right now. But I’ll be working to offer some fun things in the future including stickers, pins, bookish gift boxes, and hopefully more! Keep an eye out on this space for more announcements as I have them! (And, if you have any ideas about, well, anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!)
As always, thank you so much for reading this issue of Musings. I’m excited to offer book reviews this week and hopefully a long-form research article sometime in April!
Until next time, have a wonderful week!
Cheers,
-Amy
C. Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars (London: Penguin, 1979).
Stephanie Hughes-Johnson, “The Tusculum and Chiaramonti Caesars,” Italian Art Society, https://www.italianartsociety.org/2018/07/the-tusculum-and-chiaramonti-caesars/ (accessed March 17, 2023).