Brutus…his ancestor:

Politician of the late Roman Republic, took a leading role in assassination of Caesar; claimed descent from one of the legendary founders of Rome, Lucius Junius Brutus, the leader of the movement to overthrow King Tarquinius Superbus & establish of the Republic. The episode is semi-legendary, refers to the legendary 7 kings of Rome, beginning with Romulus & Remus.

 

Caesar’s reform of the calendar: * see Endnote 15

(aka Julian calendar) reform of the Roman calendar, proposed by Julius Caesar in 46 BC; took effect 1 January 45 BC.  Main calendar in the Roman world, Europe, Americas & elsewhere until 1582 and the Gregorian calendar.

 

antiduration:

Caesar’s attempts at reform: the Julian calendar, the new capital Alexandria & his own dynasty.  The latter was characterized by the term “duration” (meaning continuance in time).  Spengler has coined the word "antiduration" (against duration), suggesting that the assassins were against the reforms in part at least because they offended their concept of time.

​

urbs Roma:

Latin, city of Rome; in this context Spengler is inferring that the city of Rome (and its traditional supporters, the Senate) opposed the idea of moving the capital to Alexandria, another reason to oppose Caesar.

​

Nero:

(37-68 AD) last Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, the successor to Claudius with consent of the Praetorian Guard.  Initially guided by his mother & older counsel, later took a more active role.  Foreign policy successful: achieved peace with Parthian Empire, crushed British rebels, the Bosporan Kingdom annexed & began First Jewish–Roman War. He ordered extensive building programmes across Empire & promoted athletic games.  Ttaxes required for this led to resentment in middle & upper classes.  His public appearances as an actor, poet, musician & charioteer were seen to demean his office.  Plots began.  In 68 AD Gaul rose supported by Roman Spain under Galba.  The revolt failed but Roman civil & military authorities choose Galba as Emperor.  Nero fled & later committed suicide.

​

Caligula:

(12-41 AD) Roman emperor from 37- 41 AD; son of Germanicus (popular Roman general) & Agrippina the Elder (granddaughter of Augustus), born into the Julio-Claudian dynasty, the first ruling family of the Roman Empire. Sometimes portrayed as cruel, sadistic, extravagant & sexually perverse, an insane tyrant. He worked to increase the personal power of the emperor, opposed by countervailing powers within the principate.  He also directed ambitious construction projects, luxurious dwellings & 2 aqueducts in Rome.  Assassinated by officers of the Praetorian Guard, senators & courtiers who tried to restore the Roman Republic. The Praetorians declared Caligula's uncle, Claudius, the next Roman emperor.

 

Nirvana (and time):

It refers to the profound peace of mind that is acquired with liberation from or release from a state of suffering, after respective spiritual practice. The idea of Nirvana is connected to the Vedic culture, where it conveyed a notion of immortality and timeless, being unborn, the still point of the turning world of time. It was also its timeless structure, the whole underlying spokes of the invariable but incessant wheel of time. All Indian religions assert it to be a state of perfect quietude, freedom, highest happiness along with liberation from suffering & the repeating cycle of birth, life & death.

 

China of the Chou period (eras & epics):

(aka Zhou dynasty) 1046-256 BC, longest lasting dynasty in Chinese history; their military control lasted 1046-771 BC, a period called the Western Zhou; the period of their final political control (770–255 BC) was called the Eastern Zhou.  In this time, during the Spring & Autumn stage (771- 476 BC), centralized power decreased until the Warring States period in the last 2 centuries of the Zhou Dynasty.  Only with the Qin dynasty (formed 221 BC) was central control restored.