Marcus Cassius Scaeva
Marcus Cassius Scaeva (differently: M. Caesius Scaeva or Scaevola ) was a centurion in Caesar's army who is mentioned by numerous ancient writers.
Life
The first name Marcus is uncertain and is only passed down from Valerius Maximus . Scaeva had served as a simple soldier under Caesar in the Gallic War and was promoted to centurion in the civil war .
The best known mention of Scaeva comes from the Battle of Dyrrhachium in 48 BC. As a centurion of the eighth cohort , he was entrusted with guarding a castle gate of Caesar's siege works, which he successfully defended against an overwhelming force of Pompey's troops . The figures vary between one legion against three cohorts and, less credibly, four legions against a single cohort. Scaeva lost an eye in the process, and his shoulder and hip were pierced. His shield was then brought to Caesar, as it had 120 bullet holes. At the position 30,000, according to other sources 130,000 arrows were shot.
Caesar himself reports that Scaeva received 200,000 sesterces and the promotion to Primus Pilus of the Legion for this act , since the position was held mainly because of his commitment. The cohort received double wages , clothing, grain and food, as well as military awards. In fact, a primus pilus of the XII. Legion named Scaeva named in an inscription on a slingshot found in Perusia .
The Centurion Scaeva is mentioned again in the Alexandrian War at the end of the surviving work by Lukan on the civil war. Another brief mention can be found in Cicero in 44 BC. Chr.
literature
- Friedrich Münzer : Cassius 87) Cassius Scaeva. In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume III, 2, Stuttgart 1899, Sp. 1744.
- Berthe M. Marti: Cassius Scaeva and Lucan's Inventio. In: Luitpold Wallach (Ed.): The Classical Tradition. Literary and Historical Studies in Honor of Henry Caplan. Ithaca 1962, pp. 239-257.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Valerius Maximus 3, 2, 23.
- ↑ Florus 2:13 , 40.
- ↑ Lukan : De bello civili 6, 144.
- ^ A b Caesar: De bello civili 3, 52.
- ↑ a b c Suetonius : Caesar 68.
- ^ Suetonius: Caesar 68; Caesar: De bello civili 3, 53; Lukan : De bello civili 6, 140ff .; Plutarch : Caesar 16, 2; Valerius Maximus 3, 2, 23; Florus 2, 13, 40.
- ^ Caesar: De bello civili 3, 53.
- ↑ CIL 11, 06721, 28 .
- ↑ Lukan: De bello civili 10, 544.
- ↑ Cicero: epistulae ad Atticum 14, 10, 2.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Cassius Scaeva, Marcus |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Scaeva, Marcus Cassius; Scaevola; Cassius Scaeva, M. |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Centurion in Caesar's army |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1st century BC Chr. |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1st century BC Chr. |