CSI: Rome – The Assassination of
Julius Caesar
Did Julius Caesar know he was going to be assassinated? Was there a single killer
or were dozens of men involved? What were the reasons for the assassination? You
will answer these and other questions as we look back at one of history’s greatest
crimes. Using evidence gathered from the crime scene, testimony of those involved
and later historical writings we will explain a 2,000 year old murder.
Instructions:
1. There are nine stations. At each station you will read a short summary from a
witness and answer questions.
2. After you have completed all 9 stations you will answer conclusion questions.
WARNING: If you answer these questions at the beginning you may find yourself
doubting your own answer. Wait until you are finished!
Station 1
Station 1 – Senator Gistinius’ Testimony
“A few days ago we in the Senate offered the great Julius
Caesar deification- we offered to make him a god! There was
no greater honor we could possibly have given him. He had
complete control of Rome and this honor would ensure that
none in this world would ever challenge him.
However, when we presented him with this honor on the floor
of the Senate, he refused to even stand from his chair to
receive it! There is nothing one can imagine that would be
more insulting. Here we were the senate of Rome, honoring
this man and he would not even rise to acknowledge it. He gave
us no reason for his refusal. What were we to think?
Obviously Caesar has no interest in the Senate. Clearly he
intends to rule without even consulting us. Rome has been a
republic for centuries but he wants to return us to empire.
This man wouldn’t even stand to recognize the honor we
wanted to give him.”
Station 2
Station 2 – Plutarch, Roman Historian
Caesar’s refusal to stand up as the Senate entered led to
great controversy. Caesar was suffering from a type of
mental illness and when he realized how he had offended them
he stood up, drew back his toga to show his neck and yelled
“kill me now, I won’t resist!”
But afterwards he made his disease an excuse for his
behavior, saying that those with his mental illness do not
usually remain steady when they stand and speak to many
people and that he would be greatly embarrassed if that
happened. However, what he said was not true; actually he
very much wanted to rise to receive the senate; but one of his
friends, as they say, or rather one of his flatterers, Cornelius
Balbus, stopped him, saying: "Remember that you are Caesar,
and you should be seen as their superior.
Station 3
Station 3: Warnings to Ceasar
Warning from Calpurnia, Caesar’s Wife
“My Lord! You must not go to the senate house today. I have
had a terrible nightmare! In it you were lying dead on the
floor. Please, I beg of you, stay home today.
Warning from Spurina, Fortune-Teller
“The oracles tell of blood on this day, the Ides of March.
Caesar, you must be careful today.”
Station 4
Station 4: Testimony of Augustus Caesar after the
Assassination
Citizens of Rome, you have seen how corrupt and weak the
senate has become. They have murdered my uncle, the great
Julius Caesar. You know that everything he did was for the
people of Rome! He protected us from the invaders while the
senators bickered among themselves. They were simply
jealous that he accomplished in a short time what they could
not do in many years.
You have made the right decision in appointing me leader.
Rome needs an emperor who will protect her! I will not wait
for the senate to act. From now on decisions will be made
quickly and with the authority that only a true emperor can
provide! Never again will Rome be weak. There will always be a
Caesar to lead her!
Station 5
Station 5: Testimony of Tyrannus, Caesar’s
Bodyguard
Three days ago Caesar fired me along with his other
bodyguards. He told us he would be traveling on his own. We
insisted that he keep us around to protect him. I don’t know
what he is thinking. Maybe he is beginning to believe that he
truly is a god and nobody can hurt him or maybe he is just
simply tired of being followed all the time. This is especially
strange based of the threats that have been heard from
Cassius.
One of the other guards told me he heard Caesar say that he
didn’t want to live anymore because of his sickness. I don’t
know if this is true or not but either way it seems very odd. If
Caesar simply wants his privacy I hope he will stay home
because of all the whispers of conspiracy going around.
Station 6
Station 6: Marcus Brutus
In the weeks before the assassination graffiti was found on
the tombs of Marcus Brutus’ ancestors. While it is unclear
who wrote the messages it is clear they were intended for
Brutus. Brutus and Caesar were very close. Some people
believe that Brutus may have been Caesar’s son. Brutus was a
well respected Senator. If he chose to take part in the
assassination it would gain a great deal of support.
Graffiti on Roman tomb:
Citizen Brutus,
Your grandfather helped to create this great republic. Will
you sit by while this man Caesar destroys it?
You must stand against this tyranny. No man should be the
sole leader of Rome. The senate is what makes us a republic!
Like your grandfather you must stand up and take whatever
means necessary to preserve your mother Rome. If that
means Caesar must be killed then so be it!
Station 7
Station 7: Cassius
Yes, it is true that Caesar pardoned me after the war. We
were fighting on opposite sides and he won. He “graciously”
allowed me back into the senate to serve with him. At least,
that’s what he wanted people to think. If Caesar truly had
forgiven me I would not have been passed by for a promotion
not once, but twice.
I know that he was simply trying to buy my support. He
wanted to keep me on his side because he knows that my
position is right. The republic should live, not an empire. If he
thinks pardoning me will make me change my mind he is crazy.
Caesar’s goal is to destroy the senate and live as a king. This is
Rome! We have no king! He doesn’t care about the people, he
cares only about himself.
Good Romans, we cannot allow this man to destroy what our
fathers have built. He must be stopped.
Station 8
Station 8: Testimony of Roman Citizen before the
assassination
Dude, let me tell you, Caesar is THE MAN. He got all us poor
people some serious cash. Those punk senators were all like
“he’s only doing that so the people will make him emperor” and
stuff but I’m like, no way, Caesar is just cool like that. All
those senators do is sit around and argue all day. How about
those lazy fools try getting a real job and then see what’s up?
I work all day and I still ain’t got enough to feed my kids.
Things are tough around here these days. These dang
barbarians are always attacking and causing problems. I can’t
wait for Caesar to do his thing. He is the only one who can
possibly keep us safe and get Rome back on track.
Station 9
Station 9: Testimony of Luciano Garafano,
Investigator
I have conducted multiple simulations of Caesar’s murder. We
know from the autopsy that he suffered 23 knife wounds but
strangely only 5 are described in detail. It is also interesting
to note that Marcus Brutus was also wounded in the attack.
We began by testing with 23 attackers. This led to complete
chaos. There was simply no way for all 23 men to strike Caesar
at the same time. So, this of course led to the question of how
they might have timed their attacks to make it work. Were
there waves of attackers perhaps with only a few men
attacking at once and then more coming in? Or, possibly, was
the conspiracy smaller than we believed?
If only a few were directly involved perhaps the others were
used to hold back the rest of the senators. This would make
some sense as many of the senators had been appointed by
Caesar and would have wanted to protect him. It is also
possible, however, that with only 5 attackers things could
have simply happened so fast that no one had a chance to stop
it. However, if Brutus was involved in the attack personally
this would imply many attackers as the confusion may have led
to his hand wound.
Julius Caesar – the Assassination
Name:__________________________________________Date:_________________
Station 1 Senator Gistinius
_____1. How did he feel toward Caesar?
a. happy
b. angry
c. glad
d. unconcerned
_____2. Why was he upset with Caesar?
a. he had fired them from their jobs
b. he told them they were crazy
c. he didn’t stand to receive their honor
d. he told them he didn’t want their honor
_____3. What did the Senate want to do for Caesar?
a. disgrace him by firing him
b. honor him with deification
c. honor him with a statue
d. create a holiday for him
_____4. Do you think he would be willing to kill Julius Caesar?
a. Yes
b. No
_____5. What does deification mean?
a. make a god
b. fire
c. reward with a prize
d. honor with gifts
Do you think Gistinius could be guilty of the crime? Why or why not?
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Station 2 Plutarch the Historian
_____1. Why did Caesar not stand at the Senate meeting?
a. he had mental illness
b. he did not like them
c. he was too tired
d. he wasn’t paying attention
_____2. Did Caesar really want to stand at the meeting?
a. Yes
b. No
_____3. Who influenced Caesar to stay seated?
a. Cornelius Balbus
b. Plutarch
c. Marcus Brutus
d. Gistinius
_____4. Which do you believe Plutarch thinks is true?
a. Caesar is mentally ill
b. Caesar listened to the wrong advice
_____5. What did Plutarch do?
a. he was a historian
b. he was a Senator
c. he was a King
Do you think Plutarch could be guilty of the crime? Why or why not?
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Station 3 Warnings
_____1. How many people warned Caesar?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
_____2. What happened to Calpurnia?
a. she had a nightmare
b. she had a vision
c. she saw a ghost
d. someone told her a rumor
_____3. What did Calpurnia see?
a. Caesar with a knife in his back
b. Caesar in a bloody bed
c. Caesar dead in the floor
d. Caesar wearing a red mask
_____4. What did Spurina see?
a. Death on the Ides of March
b. Blood on the Ides of March
c. Blackness on the Ides of March
d. Tears on the Ides of March
_____5. What did Spurina and Calpurnia want Caesar to do?
a. stand up against the Senate
b. Run away and hide
c. Quit his job
d. Be careful
Do you think Calpurnia and Spurina could be guilty of the crime? Why or why not?
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Station 4 Augustus Caesar
_____1. Who did Augustus blame for killing Caesar?
a. the Senate
b. Brutus
c. Cassius
d. Tyrannus
_____2. How did Augustus say the senate felt toward Julius Caesar?
a. angry
b. jealous
c. sad
d. happy
_____3. How was Julius related to Augustus?
a. He was his uncle
b. He was his father
c. He was his brother
d. He was not related
_____4. What kind of authority does he say he will use?
a. the authority of a king
b. the authority of a servant
c. the authority of a father
d. the authority of an emperor
_____5. Augustus said Rome will always have who to lead her?
a. A king
b. A Caesar
c. the Senate
d. an Emperor
Do you think Augustus could be guilty of the crime? Why or why not?
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Station 5 Tyrannus
_____1. What did Caesar do to his bodyguards?
a. fire them
b. promote them
c. make them senators
d. send them on vacation
_____2. Who did Tyrannus say had threatened Caesar?
a. Cassius
b. Brutus
c. Augustus
d. no one
_____3. What does Tyrannus say he hopes Caesar will do?
a. fight the senate
b. fire the senate
c. stay home
d. take a trip
_____4. Do you think Tyrannus was angry with Caesar?
a. Yes
b. No
_____5. Do you think Tyrannus wanted to see Caesar get more control?
a. Yes
b. No
Do you think Tyrannus could be guilty of the crime? Why or why not?
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Station 6 Marcus Brutus
_____1. What had been found on Brutus’ ancestors tombs?
a. poetry
b. paintings
c. dirt
d. graffiti
_____2. Were Brutus and Caesar enemies?
a. Yes
b. No
_____3. What government job did Brutus have?
a. King
b. Senator
c. Emperor
d. None
_____4. The person who wrote on the tomb was asking Brutus to do what?
a. Protect Caesar
b. Fire Caesar
c. Save Caesar
d. Kill Caesar
_____5. What does the writer on the tomb say makes Rome a republic?
a. Caesar
b. the people
c. the Senate
d. Brutus
Do you think Brutus could be guilty of the crime? Why or why not?
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Station 7 Cassius
_____1. Were Cassius and Caesar friends?
a. Yes
b. No
_____2. Was Cassius angry with Caesar?
a. Yes
b. No
_____3. What had happened to Cassius?
a. He had been promoted in the Senate
b. He had been demoted in the Senate
c. He had been passed over for a promotion three times
d. He had been passed over for a promotion twice
_____4. Who does he say Julius Caesar cares for?
a. Rome
b. The Republic
c. The Senate
d. Himself
_____5. What did Julius Caesar want?
a. Republic
b. Empire
Do you think Cassius could be guilty of the crime? Why or why not?
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Station 8 Citizen
_____1. Did the citizens like Julius Caesar?
a. Yes
b. No
_____2. Did the citizens like the Senate?
a. Yes
b. No
_____3. How did Caesar help poor people?
a. gave them new jobs
b. gave them new homes
c. gave them money
d. gave them food
_____4. Who is attacking Rome?
a. Barbarians
b. Senators
c. Republicans
d. Julius Caesar
_____5. Do the citizens think Caesar wanted to be emperor?
a. Yes
b. No
Do you think the citizens could be guilty of the crime? Why or why not?
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Station 9 Garafano
_____1. How many wounds did Caesar have?
a. 5
b. 10
c. 15
d. 23
_____2. What other person besides Caesar was wounded in the attack?
a. Brutus
b. Cassius
c. Augustus
d. no one
_____3. Why would some senators not want to be involved?
a. they were afraid of Brutus
b. they were angry with each other
c. Julius Caesar had appointed them to their jobs
d. they wanted a chance to become emperor
_____4. How many wounds were described in detail?
a. 5
b. 23
_____5. Would it have been possible for 23 men to attack Caesar at the same time?
a. Yes
b. No
Do you think Garafano could be guilty of the crime? Why or why not?
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CONCLUSION:
Based on the information you’ve read, what do you think is the best answer for the following questions?
(Answer in complete sentences!)
1. Why do you think Caesar was assassinated?
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2. How many senators do you think were involved? Why?
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3. Who took over as a result of the assassination? Would this make the person be
more likely to be guilty of the crime….why or why not?
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