The Birth Of Caesar
This day in history: July 12th, 100 BCE
“Alea iacta est”
— Julius Caesar Crossing the Rubicon
Turmoil brewed in the Roman republic. The city was in a state of crisis as it attempted to recover from the political mayhem of its time. Not only was civil violence occurring on the streets, but foreign wars also brought Romans to clash. This was the beginning of the end for the republic, the end that many thought would never come. Rome was a dominant force that was in the midst of a golden age, not a decline. But, Rome was about to experience a change that would define its history and it begins on this day in 100 BCE. In the House of Julia, a child was born.
In Roman times, the early stages of childbirth were often worrying. Not only was infant mortality extremely high, but giving birth was typically unsafe for the mother. Infections and other complications were common and a leading cause of death for women. In a normal birth, midwives would help the mother with the task of delivering the baby, in some cases using olive oil as a lubricant to deliver the child. But sometimes, there could be complications, such as the child being stuck in the vaginal canal. The doctor, if we can give that label, would make an insertion above the womb to pull the child out. This procedure was…
