This Week: Deifying an Emperor

Notable events in Ancient History for the week of 2/4 - 2/10

February 4, A.D. 211 - On this day, Roman Emperor Septimius Severus died. He was the first African-born Emperor, and is known for his military exploits as well as for ending the period of corruption and chaos brought on by his predecessor Commodus. Upon his death, Septimius Severus was deified by the Roman Senate. The stability that he brought to Rome was short-lived, however, with the naming of his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, as co-Emperors.

February 6, 46 B.C. - At the Battle of Thapsus (in modern Tunisia), Julius Caesar defeats the Conservative Republican Army (or, Pompey's guys), leading to a lessening of resistance to Caesar in Africa, and opening the doors further for his eventual rule of Rome.

February 8, A.D. 412 - On this date, Greek Neoplatonist philosopher Proclus was born. As one of the last prominent Greek philosophers, he stood on the precipice between the last days of pagan phiosophy and the forefront of Christian and Islamic philosophical thought, on which he was very influential.