Page "Theatre of Pompey" Paragraph 21

According to Plutarch, as Caesar arrived Tillius Cimber presented him with a petition to recall his exiled brother.

The other conspirators crowded round to offer support.

Both Plutarch and Suetonius say that Caesar waved him away, but Cimber grabbed his shoulders and pulled down Caesar's tunic.

Caesar then cried to Cimber, " Why, this is violence!

" (" Ista quidem vis est !").

At the same time, the aforementioned Casca produced his dagger and made a glancing thrust at the dictator's neck.

Caesar turned around quickly and caught Casca by the arm, saying in Latin " Casca, you villain, what are you doing?

" Casca, frightened, shouted " Help, brother " in Greek ("", " adelphe, boethei !").

Within moments, the entire group, including Brutus, was striking out at the dictator.

Caesar attempted to get away, but, blinded by blood, he tripped and fell ; the men continued stabbing him as he lay defenseless on the lower steps of the portico.

According to Eutropius, around sixty or more men participated in the assassination.

He was stabbed 23 times, but, according to Suetonius, a physician later established that only one wound, the second one to his chest, had been lethal.