The Ides of March—a Day of Murder That Forever Changed History

National Geographic ^ | MARCH 14, 2023 | Jennifer Vernon

[nickcarraway]

It is the bright day that brings forth the adder

[Tupelo]

I have often wondered if Julius Caesar was actually assassinated on the ‘Ides of March” or if Shakespeare sorta kinda figured it sounded good.
What I do know is the Ides of March was sorta kinda different on the calendar Shakespeare was using than the calendar them old Roman did. 12-13 days off?

[KingLudd]

When I hear or read about the Ides of March, I think about Caesar only after I do a Jim Peterik impression on air guitar. Great God in heaven you know I lu-u-uv you.

[Psalm 73]

“I’m your vehicle baby....”

[nickcarraway]

It’s the eye of the tiger
It’s the thrill of the fight

[nickcarraway]

Shakespeare didn’t come up with, his source, Plutarch said a soothsayer warned Caesar about that date. Of course, Shakespeare did like predictions, witches, soothsayers, omens, and that kind of thing, so he would jump on it.

[nickcarraway]

See post #4 and #5.

[Psalm 73]

“Great minds” and all....

[njmaugbill]

“ When I hear or read about the Ides of March, I think about Caesar only after I do a Jim Peterik impression on air guitar. Great God in heaven you know I lu-u-uv you”

You win the thread!

[dfwgator]

[Right_Wing_Madman]

I have often wondered if Julius Caesar was actually assassinated on the ‘Ides of March” or if Shakespeare sorta kinda figured it sounded good.

Julius Caesar was killed on March 15th. March 15th was an important day in the Republic - it was the first business day of the year for the Roman Senate (March, not January, being the first month of the year in the original Roman calendar). March 15th was the day the two elected consuls would give their acceptance speeches to the Senate. It was also the day the previous year's taxes and debts were due to Rome. And on March 14th, Brutus attended a dinner party at Caesar's home and invited Caesar to give a speech to adjourn the Senate the next day, in the tradition of previous consuls, in which Caesar accepted.

[KingLudd]

“You win the thread!”

My mom would become apoplectic when she heard me playing this song. She was constantly afraid I would be abducted by some stranger or the Moonies. Lol.

[Prince of Space]

Thanks for sharing this very interesting article. Between that and my ADHD, I was forced to do some additional research on Julius Caesar and his cohorts, of which I knew remarkably little. History is fascinating.

[Jan_Sobieski]

Brutus and Cassius were fighting to wrest Roman Republic back from Emperor Caesar. Viva La Republic!

[njslim]

Saw a video couple years back of historical re-enactment of the assassination

Found if all the twenty odd conspirators tried to bum rush Caesar and stab him would have got into each others way and probably end up stabbing each other

Probably only 2 or 3 actually stabbed Caesar - rest would have later dipped their daggers in the blood as a symbol

[Right_Wing_Madman]

Brutus and Cassius were fighting to wrest Roman Republic back from Emperor Caesar. Viva La Republic!

The assassination of Julius Caesar is a historical tragedy in the sense that both sides were right: the conspirators thinking that Caesar had instituted monarchy and Caesar thinking that the chaos, war, and turmoil at the end of the Republic made monarchy inevitable.

[sima_yi]

If I remember correctly, Caesar sustained 22 stab wounds, only two of which would have been fatal.

[dfwgator]

If I remember correctly, Caesar sustained 22 stab wounds, only two of which would have been fatal.

It only takes one.

[Billthedrill]

Tragic loss, IMHO. The guy could make a heck of a salad.

[Ezekiel]

forever marked March 15, or the Ides of March, as a day of infamy.

History teaches what happens when people lose faith in Pi Day.

It was supposed to go on forever.