The Ides of March

I have always been intrigued by this date. Don't ask me why. Maybe it was the first thing I learned about Roman history that stuck in my brain? Maybe it's the ring of the phrase? Maybe it's about the betrayal of one's subjects? Maybe it's about not listening to one whom one thinks is a lesser person? Don't know - but it sure intrigues me. You don't really hear much about it - or maybe I'm not talking to the right people - or maybe its not as significant as it used to be. Who knows. At any rate - if you've forgotten, I am here to enlighten as best I can:



"Beware the Ides of March!"

The ides of March in Roman times simply meant: March 15th.

But for your reading pleasure I wish to recount Roman "history", if you will. Caesar - ruler of Rome - had been warned by a soothsayer to "beware the ides of March". (said soothsayer was "leaking" info to his emperor). Caesar, however, didn't take this warning seriously. I am thinking he was not a favorite amongst the Senate. On his way to the Theater of Pompey on this particular day, Caesar saw the soothsayer and laughed off the prior warning saying "Well, the ides of March have come.", to which the seer replied, "Ay, they have come, but they are not gone." The rest is history. Caesar was killed by an uprising led by Brutus - possibly Caesar's best friend? - in the Senate, which lead to the infamous quote: "Et tu, Brute?" (and you, Brutus?).



So . . . . . if paranoia is your thing . . . . "Beware the Ides of March!"
Or . . . . . if you are a bit "testy" with folk, you may want to . . . . . "Beware the Ides of March!"



Sorry, couldn't resist!