Many in the graveyard believe that Caius Pompeius was the graveyard’s first resident, though he shares with Bod that a soul much older than him was there first. A Roman who wanted to be buried in Britain rather than have his body shipped back to Rome, Caius Pompeius was buried about 2000 years ago. He generally keeps to himself, but he does come out of his slumber occasionally when Bod asks.
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Caius Pompeius Character Timeline in The Graveyard Book
The timeline below shows where the character Caius Pompeius appears in The Graveyard Book. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...also reminds everyone that the baby’s mother made her promise to care for the baby Caius Pompeius , the old Roman, asks what Mrs. Owens plans to feed the baby. Mother Slaughter,...
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Caius Pompeius concedes that they’ve given the Freedom of the Graveyard to someone before, but that someone...
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...baby Nobody Owens. Nobody, who’s been sleeping, wakes up, stares at Silas, and then wails. Caius Pompeius sends Mrs. Owens away so the other ghosts can discuss the matter without her.
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Chapter 2
One afternoon, Scarlett asks who’s the oldest person in the graveyard. Bod thinks Caius Pompeius , who came to Britain 100 years after the first Romans, is the oldest. Then,...
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After Silas leaves the graveyard, Bod calls Caius Pompeius and asks if he’s the oldest in the graveyard. Caius says that there’s a grave...
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...the hill. When Bod points out the entrance to the tunnel, Scarlett is afraid. Remembering Caius Pompeius ’s stories, Bod realizes he can’t assure Scarlett that everything will be fine. Instead, he...
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Chapter 7
...kill them. Bod says they need to hide Scarlett; then, he’ll deal with the men. Caius Pompeius rises from his grave and suggests that Scarlett hide in the barrow grave. Bod leads...
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