Amatius

Who is Amatius?

Amatius was a per­son of low origin who pretended to be either the son or grandson of the great Roman general Gaius Marius. On the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, Amatius came forward as a popular leader, and erected an altar to Caesar on the spot where his body had been burnt. He was, however, shortly afterwards seized by the consul Mark Antony and put to death without a trial. This illegal act was approved of by the Roman Senate in consequence of the advantages they derived from it. Valerius Maximus says that his name was Herophilus.