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Veni, vidi, vici – where do these words come from?

This post is also available in: Polish (polski)

Reconstruction of a bust of a Roman leader - Julius Caesar
Reconstruction of the bust of the Roman leader - Julius Caesar

The words of Julius Caesar “Veni, vidi, vici” felt after a quick victory over king of Pontus. In 47 BCE Pharnaces II of Pontus challenged Rome. The matter was resolved by Caesar during the quick campaign ended with the victorious battle of Zela (47 BCE).

In a letter to the Senate, he summarized it I came; I saw; I conquered. This message provided us Suetonius:

In his Pontic triumph he displayed among the show-pieces of the procession an inscription of but three words, “I came, I saw, I conquered”, not indicating the events of the war, as the others did, but the speed with which it was finished.

Suetonius, Caesar, 37

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