Casca

• a Roman cognomen in the gens Servilia, Cic. Att. 13, 44, 3; 16, 15, 3; id. Phil. 13, 15, 31; 2, 11, 27; Suet. Caes. 82; cf. Varr. L. L. 7, § 28 Müll.

the name of a plebeian family of the Servilia gens.

1. C. Servilius Casca, was tribune of the plebs in B. C. 212. In that year M. Postumius, a farmer of the public revenue, and a relation of Casca, was accused of having defrauded the republic, and his only hope of escaping condemnation was Casca, who, however, was either too honest or too timid to interpose on his behalf. (Liv. 25.3.)

2. P. Servilius Casca, one of the conspirators against Caesar, who aimed the first stroke at his assassination, B. C. 44. He was in that year tribune of the plebs, and soon afterwards fled from Rome, as he anticipated the revenge which Octavianus was going to take. His leaving Rome as tribune was against the constitution, and his colleague, P. Titius, accordingly carried a decree in the assembly of the people, by which he was deprived of his tribuneship. He fought in the battle of Philippi, and died shortly afterwards. (Appian App. BC 2.113, 115, 117; D. C. 44.52, 46.49 ; Cic. Philipp. 13.15, ad Att. 1.17, ad Brut. 1.18 ; Plut. Brut. 17, 45.)

3. C. Servilius Casca, a brother of the preceding, and a friend of Caesar, notwithstanding which he was likewise one of the conspirators against the life of the dictator. (Appian, App. BC 2.113; Plut. Caes. 66; Suet. Jul. 82; D. C. 44.52; Cic. Philipp. 2.11.)

The foregoing coin of the Servilia gens belongs either to No. 2 or No. 3; it contains on the obverse the head of Neptune, and on the reverse a figure of Victory. [L.S]

A tribune of the plebs, B.C. 44, and one of Caesar's assassins.