When the pirates told him that they had set his ransom at the sum of 20 talents, he laughed at them for not knowing who it was they had captured and suggested that 50 talents would be a more appropriate amount.
Doing some quick maths with 32.3 kg/talent and 0.73 €/gram of silver: Caesar’s ransom was the equivalent of silver to half million euros, with Caesar suggesting that a million euros would be more appropriate.
People often forget how stinking rich the Iulii were, even before Caesar’s military exploits.
Also the whole thing highlights how much Caesar cared about his own image.
Doing some quick maths with 32.3 kg/talent and 0.73 €/gram of silver: Caesar’s ransom was the equivalent of silver to half million euros, with Caesar suggesting that a million euros would be more appropriate.
People often forget how stinking rich the Iulii were, even before Caesar’s military exploits.
Also the whole thing highlights how much Caesar cared about his own image.