Ides of March - 15th March (Roman Calendar)

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 ---------------------- ---------------------- 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