Where was burned the body of Caesar? Where were collected his ashes?

Most of people knows that Caesar was killed in the curia of Pompey (nowadays the archeological area of Torre Argentina), but where did his body was burned? The roman historician Appiano says that it was burned in a spot of the Roman forum at the right, watching the Foca column, of Dioscuri temple. In that poin it was built, first an altar, later a temple in honor of Caesar.

  

Nowadays it remains only the external circular part of the temple with some remains of the altar. 

The legend says that the ashes were collected in a bronze globe that was put on the top of the obelisk that now is in S. Pietro square. Originally we know that this obelisk was into the "circus" of emperor Nero. However, no evidences of ashes were found into the globe.

The shows of naval battles (naumachiae)

The "naumachia" was one of the shows that Romans have organized to entertain the people. The show consisted in a naval battle. The first was organized by Julio Caesar in the 46 b.C., during the celebrations of his triumph. The event was taken in the "Campus Martius" in Rome, that was flooded by river Tevere.

In this battle there were used "biremi", "triremi" and "quadriremi" ships. There were about 2000 sailors fighters and 4000 rowers; these people were sentenced to death.
Years later, Augustus organized again the same event.
Emperor Claudius organized a naumachia in the lake Fucino.
These events were representations of historical battles, where each fleet represented a nation. Caesar recreated a battle between Egyptians and Phoenicians, while Augustus did the same with Athenians and Persians.
Maybe since Emperor Nero, Romans started to organize these events in the amphitheatre. For sure we know that Emperor Tito did one in the Colosseum.

Bibliography

• A. M. Liberati, s. v. Naumachia Augusti, in E. Steinby (éd.), Lexicon topographicum urbis Romae
• L. Cordischi, Note in margine di topografia romana: « Codeta, minor Codeta » e « Naumachia Caesaris », Bullettino della Commissione Archeologica comunale di Roma
• J.-Cl. Golvin, L'amphithéâtre romain. Essai sur la théorisation de sa forme et de ses fonctions