DID THEY GET IT WRONG? ---Julius Caesar's dying words were “ET TU, BRUTE"

By Ranjana S

The phrase "Et tu, Brute( you too Brutus)" has become as universal a response to betrayal and treachery as referring to the 30 pieces of silver collected by Judas for betraying Caesar. Shakespeare penned down these words in the assassination scene of Julius Caesar, and cast an indelible mark on the minds of the future generations.

However, there isn't any recorded evidence that Caesar spoke these words. The Roman historian Suetonius elucidated: "Caesar did not speak a single word after Casca's blow had drawn a groan from him." He added, "Some say, when he saw Brutus approaching to deliver a second blow, he reproached him in Greek with- “You too, my son?"

The whole scene of Julius Caesar's assassination poses a problem for historians. It is said that there had been many uncanny warnings of the impending doom.

The most talked about omen was that the herd of horses which Caesar had dedicated to the River Rubicon were crying copiously and refrained from eating.

A wren flew into the Pompeian Assembly Room carrying a sprig of laurel, followed by a swarm of other birds that pecked it to death.

The soothsayer Spurinna had announced the caveat “Ides of March".

Even Caesar had prophetic dreams and on the doomsday a well-wisher had handed over to him a written account of the conspiracy as he was walking down the senate.


Romans were staunch believers of omens, so why Caesar did not take heed of them? Was he in poor health and worn out, after accomplishing all feats and success one can think of, so that he longed for death? Did he think he was an immortal God? Or he trusted in the Senate's loyalty blindly to the extent that he ignored all portents? These questions are intriguing and difficult to answer. However, Suetoni believed that Rome's greatest ruler actually welcomed the manner of his death. He quoted Caesar as once saying about dying: "Let it come swiftly and unexpectedly".