Artemidorus Knidos

Artemidorus of Knidos, 1st century BCE was a native of Knidos in South West Turkey

He is now best known as a minor character in the Shakespeare 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 either the father or 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.

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 [5]. The Newton inscription ends by stating that the honors would be equal to those of the Gods, and Jenkins [6] 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. Plutarch, Life of Caesar Ch. 48
  6. I. Jenkins, The Lion of Knidos p. 52, British Museum Press 2008 ISBN 978-0-7141-5072-7
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