Posted on 03/15/2026 1:19:36 PM PDT by nickcarraway
13 March 2026 7:54 PM Today the Ides of March survives as a powerful historical metaphor. What was once simply a day for settling debts and observing rituals became one of the most famous dates in history
Few dates in history carry the dramatic weight of the Ides of March. Falling on March 15, the phrase is forever tied to political intrigue, betrayal and the assassination of one of ancient Rome’s most powerful leaders, Julius Caesar.
In the Roman calendar, the term “Ides” referred simply to the middle of the month. While the Ides fell on the 13th day in most months, they occurred on the 15th in March, May, July and October. The timing had its roots in the lunar cycle, as the Ides were traditionally associated with the full moon. In ancient Rome, the Ides of March, known in Latin as Idus Martiae, was not originally considered ominous. It was a day tied to civic and religious observances when Romans settled debts, paid rents and held celebrations in honour of Jupiter.
March itself carried particular significance. In early Roman tradition, Martius was the first month of the year. This origin is reflected in the numerical names of later months such as September and December, which once corresponded to their positions in the earlier calendar. During this time, the Ides of March would often align with the first full moon of the year and symbolised renewal and a fresh beginning.
The date gained its lasting notoriety in 44 BCE. On that day Julius Caesar, the Roman general and statesman who had recently declared himself dictator for life, was assassinated by a group of senators during a meeting of the Senate. The attack took place in the Theatre of Pompey where the Senate was convening.
Ancient accounts suggest that nearly 60 conspirators were involved in the plot. Among them was Caesar’s trusted ally Marcus Junius Brutus, whose involvement made the betrayal all the more dramatic. As Caesar entered the Senate chamber, one of the conspirators approached him with a petition and pulled at his toga, which served as a signal for the others to strike. The senators then surrounded him and drew daggers that had been concealed beneath their robes. Caesar was stabbed repeatedly during the attack, with historical sources commonly citing 23 wounds.
The famous warning “Beware the Ides of March” entered popular imagination largely through William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. In the drama, a mysterious soothsayer warns Caesar about impending danger on March 15. Shakespeare drew on earlier historical accounts which mention a prophet who cautioned Caesar to be wary of that date. According to the story, Caesar later encountered the soothsayer on the morning of the Ides and remarked that the day had arrived. The reply came that the day had arrived, but had not yet passed.
Instead of restoring stability, Caesar’s assassination plunged Rome into years of political chaos. Rival factions fought for control and civil wars followed across the Roman world. The turmoil finally ended when Caesar’s adopted heir Augustus, then known as Octavian, defeated the forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 30 BCE. Augustus would go on to rule for decades and establish the Roman Empire.
Caesar’s influence extended beyond politics and warfare. Two years before his assassination he introduced sweeping reforms to the Roman calendar. The earlier Roman system had only 355 days and had fallen badly out of alignment with the solar year. Caesar reorganised the calendar to create a 365 day system with the addition of a leap year, forming what became known as the Julian calendar. Modern calendars have since evolved, but they still trace their structure back to these reforms.
Today the Ides of March survives as a powerful historical metaphor. What was once simply a day for settling debts and observing rituals became one of the most famous dates in history, a reminder of political betrayal, the fragility of power and how a single moment can alter the course of the world.
Well put.
When I first read JC 50 years ago, I always wondered what this “ambition” he had caused the primary killers so much concern. Decades later I found an 1800s history book which answered my question.
Crassus was one of 3 triumverates of Rome in charge of the Eastern empire. He failed miserably to conquer the Parthians and Caesar wanted to avenge the disaster. Cassius helped save 10,000 Romans and became a hero. He knew Caesar’s plan was a disaster waiting to happen and convinced others Caesar had to die.
This Deccan group sounds interesting. I was particularly struck by the comment “Instead of restoring stability, Caesar’s assassination plunged Rome into years of political chaos. Rival factions fought for control and civil wars followed across the Roman world.”
I find myself becoming increasingly worried about the outcome of our leader’s sudden entry into the attack on Iran, not on his own time scale but because another’s attack was imminent. Now we have another dozen+ countries being attacked and drawn into this conflict, so who knows what additional conflicts are going to result from stirring up this mess on land and at sea?
Recently I encountered an interesting question on what would happen if the Chinese Three Gorges Dam (TGD) failed or was attacked. Concerned scientists argued strongly against the TGD as being a very real danger. Structural problems and leaks have already been reported. Unusually heavy rains could overtop any of the 4 dams upriver, as well as the TGD itself and cause collapse of the other dams and then the TGD. A giant bunker buster bomb could also take out the TGD, and even Taiwan could drop such a bomb. India is very concerned because China plans to build a similar huge hydroelectric dam at a lake which is the outlet to India’s sacred river. India has objected, and could also bomb the TGD.
The immediate result of the collapse of this dam would be at least 25 million deaths, and destruction of 40% of China’s industrial low land. A lot of our products, probably including much of our medical supplies might be lost to us for years. We used to have a 5 mile square drug industrial park in Puerto Rico. It failed when a tax law was changed. We should restore that law, and resurrect or rebuild this huge industrial resource on US controlled territory. I hope Trump succeeds in bringing home many of the industrial resources that we need that would be lost if something or someone destroys the TGD structure. Collapse of this dam would be an economic disaster for the world. Off to see how bad AI suggests it could be.
Israel famously dropped a paint bomb squarely in the center of the Russian-built Aswan High Dam which produces electricity from the Nile river. They did that just before the end of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
A few weeks ago I asked AI about the danger, consequences, likelihood of the Three Gorges Dam failing and collapsing. Even without being bombed, the danger seems so real that if I were president, I would be encouraging the world community to have Chine dismantle the Dam before it is too late.
The idea that it makes a useful hostage against China starting a major war is an interesting thought, but from what I could see the danger of natural collapse is so high it should be removed for the sake of the world, and China itself. Maybe a better leader than Xi might be that smart,
I guess that Israeli paint bomb is one reason Egypt has behaved more cooperatively with Isreal in the more recent past.
I saw a story on YT that said that all PLAAF operations against Taiwan &emdash; 30 to 50 a day, for the last six months — ceased on day 1 of Operation Epic Fury.
A major reason given was that China fears that one of their pilots, understanding the real balance of power between China and the US, might defect, delivering a Chinese "fifth generation" J-20 fighter to us.
Anthony called Brutus the noblest Roman of them all.
That’s something to wonder about.
I lean on Issac Asimov’s guide to Shakespeare.
His best explanation was Shakespeare was being ironic.
In my view a political murder is always the product of ambition.
There was a lot of ambition in Texas when JFK was murdered.
None more than the ambition of a boy from the Texas Hill Country named Lyndon.
When I asked AI about Caesar’s ambition and his plan to avenge the murder of Crassus in his Parthian war, AI said he was just days from taking off to fight that war. Cassius had been the hero who saved 10,000 Roman soldiers from the disaster and fought his way back to safety in Syria. Crassus not only lost the life of his son in the fight, but after his capture Crassus who was known for his greed was killed by pouring molten gold down his living throat. Caesar was especially desirous of avenging this gruesome and demeaning execution.
Cassius knew the Roman army as it would be fighting could not defeat the special methods the Parthians had developed for fighting. Kind of like how Russia is being defeated by Ukraine’s drone expertise. However, I think the number of soldiers on each side was probably more balanced in the Battle of Carrea against the Parthians.
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