Crassus?
Good movie, but why didn't they mention Crassus?
shareCrassus died in like 54 b.c. He was captured in battle against the Parthians and had molten gold poured down his throat.
shareDespite that he died in 54 B.C., you would think that he would at least have a role in the movie since he did form part of the first triumvirate with Caesar, didn't he? Or am I mistaken?
“I don't know what else I could do but pretend to be an actor.” -Sir Alec Guinness
You are not mistaken. I haven't seen this miniseries, but if it covers as much of Caesar's life as the User Comment claims, then Crassus was very much alive and kicking. I think he was only about 10 years Caesar's senior, and he was certainly younger than Sulla.
"You ever get the feeling there's something going on we don't know about?"
Marcus Licinius Crassus was a junior officer in Sulla's army, he became incredibly rich by purchasing property from Sulla's proscripted. He allied himself with Caesar and Pompeius, who also got his start with Sulla. They conspired to give each other commands in Rome, Pompey got to stay in Rome but govern Spain (Spain was rich in minerals, but to govern while in Rome should have been illegal). Crassus got to go invade Parthia where he was killed in battle. He never had molten gold poured down his throat, that was done by Mithridates VI to I believe Flaminius (but don't quote me on that). Anyway, he was killed and at about the sam etime Caeasr's daughter died (she was married to Pompey). This ended the triumvirate and Pompey remarried Metella, who ws a political enemy of Caesar. He should have been mentioned and his exclusion was just one of many problems in this film. I will say now that there has never been a good film made about the Roman empire (I, Claudius the exception, althougj it is VERY inaccurate).
shareYeah. I thought the absence of ANY mention of the First Triumvirate or Crassus was rather disappointing...definately one of the major let-downs of the otherwise enjoyable mini-series. Mind you, it IS TV and there are so many things about J.C. that simply would not have flown with a modern audience. I was not in the least surprised that they made him out to be basically "just such a great guy" overall. That's what you need in protagonists today. Forget the fact that he was "Every woman's husband and every man's wife", that he was very vain, bald, and 55 or so when he died...etc, etc. Exceptians must be made. Overall, an enjoyable few hours.
And the best film about ANYTHING Roman has to be the 1953 movie of the Julius Caesar play. SEE IT!!
PS: Sorry about the spellings...heehee
Considering how long the movie was its understandable why he wasnt in it but then again he WAS a good friend of Caesar and his death was one of the things that through Rome into civil war.
shareI like the 1953 Julius Caesar play, but the ultimate Roman Movie/TV series/Play is 'I, Claudius'.
"It is better to die once, than to live in constant fear of death."
Only to add that crassus was given command of syria in 55 bc and when he got there he invaded parthia unprovoked. He just seeked glory.
Crassus' mistake was he refused armenia's offer to assist him if he was to invade parthia from armenia's roads and instead he chose to go south through desert. Armenian general then refused to assist him and the outcome was that crassus was defeated and slain an from his troops only a bunch managed to return to safety back in syria.
Hope in the future e see an epic caesar film showing both caesar and crassus with pompey and their co-operation against the influence of the senate in the last years of the roman republic.
An interesting fact - Gaius Cassius Longinus was one of the few who made it back from the battle.
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