Kaisarion Music study
Kaisarion if the first track of Impera, and the name alone is the name of a Greek poem “Καισαρίων” by Constantine P. Cavafy. The poem is about the eldest son of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, originally titled “of the Ptolemy XV Caesar”. Ptolemy is also mentioned in history by the name Kaisarion. The poem itself has a very lonely and melancholy tone and speaks about Ptolemy’s untimely death at the age of 17. Onto the actual lyrics, there’s many mentions of “Hypatia”. Hypatia was a philosopher that lived in Alexandria Egypt through 370 AD and died in 415 AD. She taught Philosophy and Astronomy and was the first female mathematician to be properly recorded. Throughout her life she showed much tolerance and kindness toward christians, even teaching a few. The events leading to her death were long and full of fighting between Christians and Jewish people, and she was well liked by both sides until Cyril. Hypatia was close friends with the Bishop of Alexandria, until his untimely death. He was replace by Cyril, who had his allies spread allegations against Hypatia to accuse her of Satanism and discredit her. There was a passage written about her that says “She beguiled many people through her Satanic wiles” (Chronicle 84.87-103). This quote is nearly identical to the lyrics “throw your holy rocks right at her for her satanic wiles”. In march of 415, a group of christians raided her carriage and dragged her into a building known as the Kaisarion. This temple was built by Cleopatra to honor Julius Caesar, and their son was also known as Kaisarion. Hypatia was murdered here using Ostraka (Rooftiles/Oyster shells/Shards). She also had her eyes cut out and was torn apart, dragged through the city being set on fire as a form of purification. Looking more in depth at the lyrics of the song, there’s no doubt it’s written about Hypatia. “The noise of the righteous dogma that hides the handmaids tale” could be referring to how Hypatia was a symbol of anti-catholicism long after her death, and how she was painted as a satanic witch. Even to this day her name is used in feminist symbolism, yet no one actually takes a moment to learn the story hidden by the world’s symbols. Another lyric says “our brotherhood of good faith sealed an apostate witch’s doom”, another reference to her murder and how people believed they were right to kill her for being a “Satanic Witch” and purifying their city. Obviously there’s a lot more history, but this is what I could find. Now, why is Hypatia such a prominent figure in this song? She lived so long ago and still has the first song of the album practically dedicated to her and her death. Many ghost songs focus on the cruelty of the church and their wrongdoings. It’s very likely Tobias thought her story was worthy of being the focus of a song on how people consider themselves “Holier than thou” and they can do whatever they want with people who don’t conform to them.
