The practice began as an ancient Etruscan funeral ritual ... exhibitions in memory of the dead and by the time Julius Caesar was in charge, these exhibitions had become public spectacles.

When Shakespeare’s Antony delivers his funeral speech over Caesar’s ... Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” helps us understand ...

He reminds the crowd of all the good Caesar has done and encourages them to mourn for him. Julius Caesar's popularity soars when he returns to Rome victorious after defeating the sons of Pompey.