Dr. Alex Imrie

The actual act of the murder is lost, but using interpolations from other sources, we get the sense that Caracalla just launches himself at Geta in a frenzy and stabs him dozens of times in the chamber there right in front of Julia Domna. So he does it personally.

The actual act of the murder is lost, but using interpolations from other sources, we get the sense that Caracalla just launches himself at Geta in a frenzy and stabs him dozens of times in the chamber there right in front of Julia Domna. So he does it personally.

The actual act of the murder is lost, but using interpolations from other sources, we get the sense that Caracalla just launches himself at Geta in a frenzy and stabs him dozens of times in the chamber there right in front of Julia Domna. So he does it personally.

He kills his brother right there. So says Herodian. Oh, wow. Now, Cassius Dio gives us a slightly different telling. Cassius Dio does tell us that he basically delegates the task. Cassius Dio tells us that when the meeting is underway, Caracalla gives a signal. And at that point, 10 centurions, presumably picked from within the Praetorian Guard, burst into the room.

He kills his brother right there. So says Herodian. Oh, wow. Now, Cassius Dio gives us a slightly different telling. Cassius Dio does tell us that he basically delegates the task. Cassius Dio tells us that when the meeting is underway, Caracalla gives a signal. And at that point, 10 centurions, presumably picked from within the Praetorian Guard, burst into the room.

He kills his brother right there. So says Herodian. Oh, wow. Now, Cassius Dio gives us a slightly different telling. Cassius Dio does tell us that he basically delegates the task. Cassius Dio tells us that when the meeting is underway, Caracalla gives a signal. And at that point, 10 centurions, presumably picked from within the Praetorian Guard, burst into the room.

And this is an even more harrowing scene, I think, if it can be, than Caracalla murdering Geta by hand. Because in Daioh's telling, at the sight of the centurions bursting in, armed and dangerous, obviously, Geta runs to Julia Domna and clings to her and pleads for his life. And nobody pays attention.

And this is an even more harrowing scene, I think, if it can be, than Caracalla murdering Geta by hand. Because in Daioh's telling, at the sight of the centurions bursting in, armed and dangerous, obviously, Geta runs to Julia Domna and clings to her and pleads for his life. And nobody pays attention.

And this is an even more harrowing scene, I think, if it can be, than Caracalla murdering Geta by hand. Because in Daioh's telling, at the sight of the centurions bursting in, armed and dangerous, obviously, Geta runs to Julia Domna and clings to her and pleads for his life. And nobody pays attention.

The centurions launch themselves at Geta whilst he is in his mother's arms and assassinate him right there. And Daioh tells us that Julia, in trying to shield Geta, also received a wound to her arm in the midst of this. So...

The centurions launch themselves at Geta whilst he is in his mother's arms and assassinate him right there. And Daioh tells us that Julia, in trying to shield Geta, also received a wound to her arm in the midst of this. So...

The centurions launch themselves at Geta whilst he is in his mother's arms and assassinate him right there. And Daioh tells us that Julia, in trying to shield Geta, also received a wound to her arm in the midst of this. So...

taking pause for a minute because I mean it's always entertaining to talk about these wild emperors and their murderous tendencies but I try and get my students to think about this moment in time just for a second if there's any historical reality to it it is absolutely heinous and it is highly traumatic

taking pause for a minute because I mean it's always entertaining to talk about these wild emperors and their murderous tendencies but I try and get my students to think about this moment in time just for a second if there's any historical reality to it it is absolutely heinous and it is highly traumatic

taking pause for a minute because I mean it's always entertaining to talk about these wild emperors and their murderous tendencies but I try and get my students to think about this moment in time just for a second if there's any historical reality to it it is absolutely heinous and it is highly traumatic

We have Caracalla either murdering or ordering the murder of his brother and co-emperor in their mother's arms in the Imperial Palace. This is an unprecedented act of political murder. And in the aftermath, Caracalla immediately runs from the chamber and petitions the Praetorian Guard for their support. He claims that he was the target of a plot

We have Caracalla either murdering or ordering the murder of his brother and co-emperor in their mother's arms in the Imperial Palace. This is an unprecedented act of political murder. And in the aftermath, Caracalla immediately runs from the chamber and petitions the Praetorian Guard for their support. He claims that he was the target of a plot

We have Caracalla either murdering or ordering the murder of his brother and co-emperor in their mother's arms in the Imperial Palace. This is an unprecedented act of political murder. And in the aftermath, Caracalla immediately runs from the chamber and petitions the Praetorian Guard for their support. He claims that he was the target of a plot

Which, you know, looking aside from the literary agendas of the sources, may well be true. But the act of murder itself is pinned wholly on Caracalla at this point.

Which, you know, looking aside from the literary agendas of the sources, may well be true. But the act of murder itself is pinned wholly on Caracalla at this point.