Case file · Cosmic event
Caesar's Comet
In July 44 BC, during games held by Octavian a few months after Julius Caesar's murder, a bright comet shone for seven days and was hailed as Caesar's soul rising among the gods.
44 BCE · 41.89, 12.49 · status: explained
The account
Octavian promoted the 'Julian star' (sidus Iulium) on coins and in the cult of the deified Caesar. Chinese records also note a comet that year.
The sceptical view
A real comet (C/-43 K1); the political reading was propaganda.
Connections in the atlas
- Caesar's soul rises as a star (sidus Iulium)