The city of Zile ended up being location of the fight. In today’s world, this location is in northern Turkey in the Tokat province. Both armies set up camps on hilltops but in a surprise move, the Pontic army unexpectedly attacked. It did catch Caesar’s forces off guard, but the surprising part was that Pharnaces would give up high ground and attack going uphill. Initially, the attack took Caesar by surprise but once the veteran army got their bearings, they pushed the Pontic army back down the hill and ended the battle quickly.

This was a great victory by Julius Caesar and was so quick and thorough that he decided to commemorate it with the phrase we’ve been speaking of, veni, vidi, vici. Suetonius, a Roman historian of the time, stated that as Caesar returned home, he was led by the light of a torches and a tablet that had the phrase veni, vidi, vici inscribed.

The popularity of this phrase has increased over the years. It’s been used in military context for many years and many will add a spin to the phrase. In the case King Jan III of Poland, he stated, “We came, We saw, God conquered” after the Battle of Vienna.

It has also been used in music by the likes of Jay-Z on his song “Encore” and the Swedish group The Hives when they titled their album Veni Vidi Vicious.

Styles of the Tattoo

You tend to see many different styles and ways this tattoo can be inked on the body. Many times, you’ll see the veni, vidi, vici tattoo inked between a laurel wreath. The laurel wreath is made from interlocking branches from the bay laurel. It is generally likened to Roman times as many Roman Emperors wore these wreaths. Therefore, it makes sense to put the veni, vidi, vici tattoo between this wreath.

You might also see these words written in Roman numeral style writing. Because of the connection with the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, it’s no surprise that people would want this tattoo inked in a style that is commemorative of Roman times. It’s a bold style of writing which is fitting for a phrase that was coined after such a bold victory.