Caesar's Comet was a bright object in the sky, probably a comet, that appeared in Rome in the weeks after the assassination of Julius Caesar and was seen during games held in his honor. Many Romans took it to be a sign that Caesar's soul had been received among the gods, and Octavian, his adopted heir and later the emperor Augustus, promoted this belief, naming it the Julian Star and using it on coins and in propaganda. The appearance was recorded by Roman writers and may also be reflected in Chinese records of a comet in the same year. Modern astronomers have debated whether it was a comet or a different phenomenon, and what its path may have been.
Before and after
- 24 August 49 BCEBattle of the Bagradas River
- 46 BCEOrigins of Forum of Caesar
- 1 January 45 BCEThe Julian calendar takes effect
- 17 March 45 BCEBattle of Munda
- 44 BCEDiscovery of Caesar's Comet
- 15 March 44 BCEDeath of Julius Caesar
- 20 March 43 BCEBirth of Ovid
- 7 December 43 BCEDeath of Cicero
- 16 November 42 BCEBirth of Tiberius
More in Universe & space
- 300 BCEFounding of Chankillo
- 241 BCEChinese astronomers record Halley's Comet
- 185 CEChinese astronomers record the supernova of 185
- 25 March 1655Discovery of Titan
- 13 March 1781Discovery of Uranus
- 23 September 1846Discovery of Neptune
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 1st century BCE.