CAIUS of LACEDAEMON
Real Name: Presumably Caius
Identity/Class: Human magic-user;
Spartan citizen;
active from 5th century BC to 2nd century AD, at least
Occupation: Sorcerer;
former Sorcerer Supreme
Group Membership: Sorcerers Supreme
Affiliations: Aged Genghis, the Vishanti (Hoggoth, Oshtur, Agamotto
Enemies: Necrotek/Nekroteque;
he defeated and succeeded the Triumvirate of Mages (Empedocles, Epimenides, Pherecydes), although the circumstances/nature of the conflict is unrevealed (see comments);
similarly, his relationship with Zhang Jiao is unrevealed (see comments);
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Unrevealed
First Appearance: (Mentioned) Doom 2099#13 (January, 1994)
Powers/Abilities: Caius was one of the most powerful magic users of his era. He could almost certainly access the astral plane and other dimensions, transport others across dimensional barriers, project magical bolts, magically extend his lifespan to perhaps 500 years or more, and call on power from entities such as the Vishanti.
One of his more defined spells was the Caius
Circle, with which, in concert with the Eyes of Agamotto, he could bind
and/or banish powerful demons.
He could utilize the Eyes of Agamotto. He presumably possessed and could utilize the Book of the Vishanti.
The full range of his abilities remains unrevealed.
Height: Unrevealed
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Unrevealed
History:
(Doom 2099#13 (fb) - BTS) -
Wielding all three Eyes of Agamotto, the Spartan Caius bound demons,
including Necrotek/Nekroteque, during the Demonplague of Sparta in the
time of the Peloponnesian War (432-405 BC).
It required all three Eyes for Caius used in concert with a binding spell to banish Nekroteque from the
mortal plane.
Comments: Created by John Francis Moore and Alcatenna.
To the best of my knowledge there are no existing images of Caius...only the image of the Caius Circle, as shown above.
Although we know Caius defeated the Triumvirate, we don't know whether it was on friendly terms, or whether enmity was felt by either side.
Similarly, it is unrevealed whether Zhang Jiao directly succeeded Caius;
The Doom 2099 stories took place
in Reality-928's 2099 AD, but the history involving Caius' conflict
with Nekroteque took place prior to the divergence.
Theodoro, the last surviving brother at a Byzantine Monastery in Latveria on Earth-928 circa 2099 AD, noted that Caius of Lacedaemon was the last mystic to hold all three Eyes of Agamotto. The Marvel Tarot revealed that the three Eyes were the previously known Amulet, Eye, and Orb of Agamotto; Theodoro probably didn't know that. Yes, Earth-928 is divergent from Earth-616, but Dr. Strange was common to both realities, and he all three Eyes.
Regardless, in that future, Doom
learned of the Caius Circle from the digital libraries in that monastery, and
he used it to again bind/banish Nektrotek.
Theodoro's computers referenced the Demonplague of Sparta in combination with Caius and Necrotek/Necroteque, presumably indicating that this is when the two encountered each other.
Courtesy of Wolfram Bane:
431-404 BE. The Peloponnesian War is fought between the city-states of Athens and Sparta, and due to their many alliances the conflict escalates to include most of Greece. Athenian historian Thucydides methodically records the events of the war and is considered father of the historical method.
Marvel Tarot and the Magic appendix author David Sexton speculated that the author of Doom 2099 might have been referring to this character (information courtesy of Wikipedia):
Gaius Julius Eurycles or Eurycles of Sparta (b. Sparta, fl. 1st century BC), was "hegemon of the Lacedaemonians" (Λακεδαιμονίων ἡγεμών), a benefactor of Greek cities, and founder of the family of the Euryclids.
Eurycles was the son of Lachares. His father was executed on charges of piracy by Marcus Antonius. Eurycles led a small naval contingent provided by Sparta to Octavian at the battle of Actium. He also outfitted his own ship from his own money. For his distinction in battle he was rewarded with Roman citizenship and the title of Λακεδαιμονίων ἡγεμών by emperor Augustus. In the late 1st century BC, Eurycles behaved strangely and caused trouble in many Greek cities, which led to his banishing by Augustus. In the early years of Tiberius' reign, after his death, Eurycles was fully rehabilitated in Sparta.
Gaius Julius Laco was his son.
Josephus mentions a Eurycles (probably the same Eurycles mentioned by Tacitus referring to the Antony connection) living around 4 BC as a "vile Lacemedonean" [Spartan]. (Wars of the Jews, Book 1 Chapter 26)
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Caius of Lacedaemon should be distinguished from:
images: (without ads)
Doom 2099#13, pg. 18, panel 5 (Caius Circle)
Appearances:
Doom 2099#13 (January, 1994) - John Francis Moore (writer), Alcatenna (artist), Joey Cavalieri (editor)
Marvel
Tarot (2007) - David Sexton (writer/designer), Doug Sexton (technical
consultant), Jeff Christiansen (continuity consultant), Michael Short
& Cory Levine (assistant editors), Mark D. Beazley & Jennifer
Grunwald (associate editors), Jeff Youngquist (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z
(hardcover) Vol. 7: Appendix: Magic (from the journals of Ian
McNee) (May, 2009) - David Sexton (writer), Jeff Christiansen (head writer), Madison Carter,
Mike Fichera & Stuart Vandal (coordination assistants), Jeff
Youngquist & Jennifer Grunwald (editors)
First posted: 04/24/2019
Last updated: 04/24/2019
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and
© 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you
like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!