Sidus Iulium

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Sidus Iulium is the bright comet that appeared in 44 BC and was interpreted by Romans as a sign of Julius Caesar’s deification.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf astronomical object
comet
cultural symbol
appearedAfterEvent assassination of Julius Caesar
appearedInYear 44 BC
associatedWith Augustus NERFINISHED
Julius Caesar NERFINISHED
culturallySignificantFor ancient Romans
hasAlternativeName Caesar’s Comet NERFINISHED
Comet Caesar NERFINISHED
Julian Star NERFINISHED
Sidus Divi Iulii NERFINISHED
Stella Iuliana NERFINISHED
hasCategory Julius Caesar NERFINISHED
Roman imperial cult
Roman religion
comets in history
hasLanguageOfName Latin
hasNotableFeature association with a deified ruler
exceptional brightness
hasTemporalContext late Roman Republic
influenced Roman views of celestial omens
interpretedAs divine sign
omen
sign of Julius Caesar’s deification
linkedTo deification of Julius Caesar
imperial cult of Julius Caesar
linkedToBelief Caesar’s soul ascending to the heavens
mentionedIn Cassius Dio’s Roman History NERFINISHED
Pliny the Elder’s Natural History NERFINISHED
Suetonius’ Life of Julius Caesar NERFINISHED
nameMeaning Julian Star NERFINISHED
observedAs bright object in the sky
observedFrom Rome NERFINISHED
perceivedDuration several days
referencedBy Roman historians
poet Ovid
poet Virgil
representedOn Roman coins
imperial iconography
symbolized apotheosis of Julius Caesar
divine favor for the Julian family
usedBy Augustus for legitimizing his rule
usedFor political propaganda in early Roman Empire
visibleDuring Ludi Victoriae Caesaris NERFINISHED
funeral games for Julius Caesar

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Caesar’s comet alsoKnownAs Sidus Iulium
subject surface form: Caesar’s Comet