this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2025
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Let an old baldy rest his tired ass, for the gods' sake! (infosec.pub)
submitted 5 months ago by PugJesus@piefed.social to c/roughromanmemes@piefed.social
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[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Explanation: Interestingly enough, one of the big controversies of Julius Caesar's dictatorship was that he was granted the right to use a curule chair - a kind of ornate folding chair/stool used by government officials when conducting business - nearly everywhere, which was an unprecedented honor - including in the Senate (the usage usually being more limited to prevent any official from appearing more important than their peers). Accounts vary wildly as to Caesar's behavior on the chair - some accused him of arrogance, refusing to rise and greet Senators as equals - others claim that Caesar rose in all cases except when he was interrupted in doing so.

Does this tyrant sit upon a throne?? Or does a man passing his prime just want to rest his weary body?

[–] Gork@sopuli.xyz 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Interesting. I wouldn't think anyone would consider a folding chair to be considered luxurious, but perhaps that's just because I'm a simple Plebian.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It's all about who gets what. Only a few magistrates got to use these chairs, and even then, only for however as long as their term of office lasted (typically a year) - most Senators, even, would not get to use a curule chair in the course of their entire career. The big 'deal' was basically that it was a special privilege given to high-ranking officials to be used in the course of their official duties - sitting down meant you were the 'big man' of the moment, like a judge presiding over a trial.

Caesar getting to use it everywhere, even though he was appointed dictator, felt like a violation of the spirit of this.

[–] HenriVolney@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

What cracks me up is the part where Cesar was appointed to a made up position as a young man, allowing him to wear a special crown and then everyone has to rise whenever he enters a room. Not very precise recollection, I reckon

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

As a young man, Caesar earned the Civic Crown - a military decoration for saving another citizen's life in battle.

However, it was only permissible to wear it on certain occasions - after becoming dictator near the end of his life, Caesar received permission to wear it all the time, partly because of his vanity, being upset over having recently starting going bald and wanting to cover it up.

[–] HenriVolney@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 months ago

Thanks for clearing that up