Ides of March
-- corresponds to 15 March (Roman calendar)
-- day marked by a number of religious observances
-- notorious as date of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC
-- Brutus + [fellow assassin] Cassius, dead within couple of years
-- republic unable to be restored
-- more permanent dictatorship ushered (ie Roman emperors)
Julius Caesar
-- reportedly sought dictatorship (vs. traditional republican govt)
-- quest for power = assassination conspiracy by prominent Romans
Christian calendar diverged significantly late 1500s
-- Julian calendar (revision of Roman calendar, by Julius Caesar)
-- Gregorian calendar (Catholic countries, Europe)
-- Ides of March, in roman times:
-- deadline for settling debts
-- 'ides' fm. L. 'divide'
-- date sought to split month (originally on full moon)
-- calendar months & lunar cycle out of sync - connection soon lost
Roman ides:
-- 15 March
-- 15 May
-- 15 July
-- 15 October
-- 13 Jan, Feb, April, Jun, August, Sept, Nov, Dec.
SOURCE
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120315-ides-of-march-beware-caesar-what-when-shakespeare-quote/
Soothsayer. Caesar!
Caesar. Ha! who calls?
Casca. Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
Caesar. Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer. Beware the ides of March.
Caesar. What man is that?
Brutus. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
Caesar. Set him before me; let me see his face.
Cassius. Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
Caesar. What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
Soothsayer. Beware the ides of March.
Caesar. He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
SOURCE
http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/play_view.php?WorkID=juliuscaesar&Act=1&Scene=2&Scope=scene
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COMMENT
Stand by for the 'Ides of March' .... ;)
That passage's about all the Shakespeare I can handle. lol
History's really cool, tho.
Might have to check out Julius Caesar once I get some practical things out of the way here.
Edit: this Caesar doco looks interesting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxff0fCe9TM
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