March 13, 2019
Beware the Ides of March
This Friday is the date known to ancient Romans as The Ides of March, which became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44BC.
The word ides comes from the Latin word "idus," which means half-division and in the Roman calendar refers to the approximate day that was the middle of the month. Ides was also used for the 15th day of May, July and October.
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Today's Random Fact:
Most people in modern times know March 15 as the day Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C. He was stabbed to death.
In Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar," a soothsayer offers Caesar a warning, "Beware the Ides of March."
Shakespeare's account of Caesar being warned by a soothsayer to "beware the Ides of March" came originally from the Greek historian Plutarch.
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Bonus Fact:
Originally, the Ides were the day of the first full moon each year. The Roman year began in March.
In Roman times, March 15 was a day of celebration and festivals dedicated to Mars, the god of war.
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