Jo, watch out - you're by way of being a real expert around here. Right, right, and right.

I had missed that wonderful story about Pompey's people luring Caesar to Dyrrachium with the set-up of a traitor within the city. Dyrrhachium was THE supply depot not only for Pompey's army, but the main port on that whole area with unrestricted access to Italy. Caesar almost, but not quite, got hold of it when he and Pompey were both racing for it, but ended up besieging Pompey's army (with its back up against the coast) south of Dyrrhachium, with a massive circum- and contravallation that, for Pompey, ran 17 miles and 22 miles for Caesar. Meanwhile, Pompey's navy could ferry him lots of goodies by sea. Pompey's armies did a well-coordinated surprise attack on a weak point of Caesar's line in July, 47 (hitting from front, rear, and flank) and Caesar's men panicked so badly that only fast response by Antony saved the army, which was badly mauled. Caesar had to withdraw because his men were living on roots by this time; he scampered off into Thessaly, Pompey followed, and the Rest (sonorous voice) is History.

I do like the idea, however, of Pompey trying to assassinate Caesar by intrigue; Caesar shows up in the dark and - surprise! - there are forces lying in wait for him in the dark. Although neither Appian nor Dio say it was Pompey behind all this, it's hard to think it was anyone else. My personal conviction is that it was Labienus' idea, who always hated Caesar far more passionately than Pompey, once he'd gone over to that side.

If Caesar had been killed then, the Civil War would have been over - Augustus was only 15 and far too young to have capitalized on Great-Uncle's name - and history would have been totally different. Well, maybe not so different - wonder what Pompey would have become?? Caesar, not surprisingly, does not mention this embarrassing episode when he was caught with his toga down.

Corona to you, Jo, with pleasure!

As for Antonius, yes, it was a bit misleading about "fighting for the purple," I admit. But if I said "fighting for first man in Rome" I was afraid it would be altogether too easy. And did not dictators wear either a purple robe or very large purple stripes??