Artemidorus of Knidos

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Artemidorus of Knidos (Greek: Ἀρτεμίδωρος), 1st century BC, was a native of Knidos in southwest Anatolia.

He is now best known as a minor character in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar where, aware of the plot against Caesar's life, he attempts to warn him with a written note. Although Caesar takes the note he does not look at it before entering the Senate and shortly thereafter is assassinated. The story originates with Plutarch.[1]

The name Artemidorus was found on an inscription at Knidos by W. J. Hamilton in the 1830s.[2] It occurs along with the name Gaius Julius Theopompus, a friend of Julius Caesar, also mentioned by Plutarch. From the inscription, it appears that Artemidorus was the name of both the father and the son of Theopompus. G. Hirschfield [3] argued that Artemidorus was the son and cites a further inscription which is also discussed by C. T. Newton.[4] This describes the honors to be given – including an altar to be built and maintained, and celebratory games – to a person whose name is unfortunately missing. However, since the games were to be called “Artemidoreia”, the likely honoree was Artemidorus.[5]

That Artemidorus was honored in this way could be due to the tax remittance granted by Caesar to the Knidians as a reward for his families’ adherence.[6] The Newton inscription ends by stating that the honors would be equal to those of the Gods, and Jenkins[7] points out that Artemidorus may have been the last citizen of the Roman Republic to be made a God in his own lifetime.

References[]

  1. ^ Plutarch, Life of Caesar Ch. 65 link
  2. ^ W. J. Hamilton, Researches in Asia Minor, Pontus, and Armenia Ch. XXXIII, London 1842 link
  3. ^ G. Hirschfield, "C. Julius Theupompus of Cnidus", Journal of Hellenic Studies Volume 7, pp 286-290, 1886
  4. ^ C. T. Newton, A History of Discoveries at Halicarnassus, Cnidus and Branchidae Ch. XVIII, London 1863 link
  5. ^ The inscriptions have been republished by W. Blümel as IK Knidos 51-55 and 59; English translation at attalus.org.
  6. ^ Plutarch, Life of Caesar Ch. 48 link
  7. ^ I. Jenkins, The Lion of Knidos p. 52, British Museum Press 2008 ISBN 978-0-7141-5072-7


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