Julius Caesar and the foundation of the Roman imperial system . ivated scepticadhered no less closely to religious forms than theignorant masses to their own superstition, its pres-tige was as great as it had ever been, and the manwho held it must be of necessity always before theeyes of the people. This was doubtless exactlywhat Caesar wished for. He probably little thoughtat this time that he would live to make his pontifi-cate the most famous and fruitful in Roman history,by reforming the calendar, and laying a new andsolid basis for chronological calculations. He was eligible, for he had a
Julius Caesar and the foundation of the Roman imperial system . ivated scepticadhered no less closely to religious forms than theignorant masses to their own superstition, its pres-tige was as great as it had ever been, and the manwho held it must be of necessity always before theeyes of the people. This was doubtless exactlywhat Caesar wished for. He probably little thoughtat this time that he would live to make his pontifi-cate the most famous and fruitful in Roman history,by reforming the calendar, and laying a new andsolid basis for chronological calculations. He was eligible, for he had already been for sev-eral years one of the college of pontifices, but as thelaw of election stood, a man so young and so demo-cratic would have no chance against candidates likethe venerable conservative leader Catulus, andCaesars own old commander in the east, ServiliusIsauricus, both of whom were standing. Sullaslaw, which placed the election in the hands of thecollege itself—a law framed expressly to excludepersons of Caesars stamp—must be repealed, and. JULIUS C/ESAR (?) AS PONTIFEX MAXIMUS. FROM THE BUST IN THE MUSEO CHIARAMONTI, IN THE VATICAN. Engraved by W. B. Closson after a Photograph from the Original, 63 ] Conspiracy of Catilina. 79 the choice vested once more in the people. Theuseful tribune Labienus was again set to work, thelaw was passed, and on March 6th Caesar was electedby a large majority. The disgust of Catulus andhis friends must have been real and bitter X it hadvery seldom happened that a man who had not yetreached the praetorship had been raised to the placeof highest permanent honor in the Caesarhimself seems to have staked everything on it. Heis said to have refused a bribe from Catulus, and tohave added to his already enormous debts for thepurpose of canvass, and it was on the morning ofthis election that he told his mother that he shouldreturn that night successful or leave Rome for after this the people also elected him pr
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