How a celestial visitor helped turn a Roman dictator into a god
In short: In 44 BC, a bright comet appeared in Rome for seven consecutive days. To the masses, it was a divine sign; to the ambitious Octavian, it was the ultimate political tool to cement his family's new, immortal status.
Following the assassination of Julius Caesar, a comet appeared in the sky, visible during daylight for an hour before sunset for seven days. This celestial event, known as the sidus Iuliously or Caesar's Comet, coincided with funeral games sponsored by Octavian. The appearance was widely interpreted as proof that Caesar's soul had ascended to the heavens, a belief Octavian and the Caesarian party actively promoted to solidify Caesar's posthumous deification.
To honor this new divinity, the Temple of Caesar (or Temple of Divus Iulius) was established in the Roman Forum. While the triumvirs Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus decreed the temple in 42 BC, it was Octavian who completed and dedicated it on 18 August 29 BC. This dedication was part of a triple triumph celebrating his victories in Egypt, Dalmatia, and at the Battle of Actium. The temple's design served as a powerful political instrument, featuring a high podium known as the Rostra ad Divi Iuli, which was decorated with the beaks of ships captured at Actium.
The temple functioned as both a religious cult center and a legislative assembly. A massive Caesar statue, shown as Pontifex Maximus with a star above him, stood inside alongside renowned art such as Apelles' Venus painting. While the temple's exact architectural order remains debated—with scholars split between Ionic, Corinthian, or a hybrid style—its presence was an undeniable reminder of the link between the new imperial order and Caesar's legacy. The edifice stayed mostly undamaged until the end of the 1400s, after which builders used its marble for fresh Roman constructions.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Temple of Caesar
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