“The Death of Caesar”, oil on canvas
We’ve all heard the expression “Beware the Ides of March!” But where does this ominous phrase come from, what exactly are the “Ides of March,” and to what extent do we have to worry about it?
In the ancient Roman Empire, the months had fixed reference dates: the famous Kalends, Nones and Ides; the latter fall on the 15th in MarchMay, July and October, and on the 13th in the remaining months.
The word Idos derives from a Latin term meaning to divide. Initially, the Ides pointed out the full moonsbut since calendar months and lunar months had different lengths, they quickly stopped coinciding.
In the ancient Roman calendar, Ides of March then corresponded to our day March 15. But what is the reason for its “dramatic” importance?
The Romans considered this date a deadline to pay off debtsperhaps something similar to August 31st, in Portugal — the last day to pay income tax to the state.
However, the expression became famous mainly because of Julius Caesarwhat it was murdered on the Ides of March 44 BC. — which is why the term is often used as bad omen symbolbetrayal or dramatic political turn.
The expression has since become famous due to William Shakespeare. In your piece Julius Caesarthe phrase “Beware the Ides of March” appears, said by a soothsayer to Caesar.
In the play by the English playwright and poet, the soothsayer catches Caesar’s attention and tells him: “Beware the Ides of March!” When the soothsayer repeats the warning, Caesar devalues it, saying: “He’s a dreamer. Let’s leave it. Advance“.
In the play, and in reality, Caesar was actually murdered on the Ides of Marchi.e. on March 15, 44 BC: he was lured to a meeting in the Theater of Pompey, where the Senate was meeting that day, where he was surrounded and stabbed by conspirators who feared that he was destroying the Roman Republic. He died on the steps of the theater.
The scene from Shakespeare’s play helped transform a Roman calendar date into a literary symbol of inevitable fate, warning ignored and political tragedy.
But although Julius Caesar apparently had reason to fear the Ides of March, the rest of us have no reason to worry. August 31st is actually much more sinister and unpleasant.
