Barry Sadler's 'Casca' series
of books, 22 in all, were written between 1979 and 1989. The series follows
the life of one Casca Rufio Longinus, a Roman soldier doomed to live until
the second coming of Christ, and the experiences he has through the centuries.
The story that Sadler based
his books upon has been around for close to 2000 years. The soldier who
pierced the side of Christ with his spear was named Longinus, but the similarities
end there.
The real Longinus was moved
to devote his life to Christianity after the Crucifixion. He lived out
his days devoted to his God, and was eventually executed for it by the
Romans.
As for the Spear, it is
believed to still survive today. It is a recurring factor in the book series,
following Casca through the ages in the hands of a secretive brotherhood
devoted to tormenting Casca. The Spear, now just a few scraps of wood and
a battered head, either rests at the Basilica of St. Peter's in Rome, or
at the Hoffburg Museum in Vienna. In either case the Spear is not available
for viewing by the general public. ( Above photo circa 1940's)
Speculation that the Spear
rests in Vienna is the most likely option. During World War 2 Adolf Hitler
became the most modern of a long line of rulers to seize control of the
Spear of Longinus. Charlemagne, Theodosius, Theodoric, Justinian, and more
than a dozen other emperors have coveted control of this Icon, believing
that it brings good luck in battle.
The Casca series is a greatly
entertaining look into the violent past. Casca at times serves as a representative
of the common soldier, the grunt, and the things that these men have and
will always endure.
