According to Dante's Inferno, Cassius is one of the three denizens of the inner circle of Hell, along with Marcus Brutus (of the famous Brutus family) and Judas Iscariot (or "Judas").

Cassius earned this damnation for betraying Julius Caesar in 44 BC, the Dictator who himself betrayed the Roman Republic and ended the reign of SPQR.

Between the years of 50 BC to 42 BC Cassius was a Roman General.

Cassius and Brutus committed suicide after the Battle of Phillipi, rather than surrender to the Second Triumvirate of Marc Antony ("Marcus Antonius"), Octavian, and Lepidus.

Cas"sius (?), n. [From the name of the discoverer, A. Cassius, a German physician of the 17th centry.]

A brownish purple pigment, obtained by the action of some compounds of tin upon certain salts of gold. It is used in painting and staining porcelain and glass to give a beautiful purple color. Commonly called Purple of Cassius.

 

© Webster 1913.

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