The Guild 3-15-2005 Beware the Ides of March

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Forget Friday the 13th. Ignore ladders, black cats, broken mirrors and spilt salt. Think instead of today, March 15, and beware.

As superstitions go, being wary of the ides of March is certainly more unusual. Yet the day does have a certain resonance.

In the complicated world of the Roman calender, there were 45 public festivals (not bad compared to the UK's eight bank holidays), as well as the ides of each month, days which were sacred to Jupiter.

In March, May, July and October, the ides fell on the 15th.

The Julian calendar, established by Julius Caesar, gave us the basis of our system of 365 days a year and 366 in a leap year. But for the most part, the Roman festivals of his time have had their day.

The ides of March, however, is one day that continues to appeal, marked because that was the date that Julius Caesar was assassinated in the senate, in 44BC.

Its modern-day memory is thanks, like so many things, to Shakespeare's way with words.

In act one, scene two of Julius Caesar, Caesar asks a soothsayer what the future holds.

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.

Although today the reference will not be understood by everybody, David Ewing Duncan, author of The Calendar, wrote that it was not always so.

A Roman saying "four ides" (meaning four days before the ides) would be just as clear to other Romans as someone saying March 11.

And furthermore, the system lasted 2,000 years, well into the Renaissance, he wrote. This meant Shakespeare could include the line, and expect his audience to know what he meant.

Test of time

However, just four hundred years later, the ides seems set only to survive as a literary and historical reference - in spite of it being the date by which debts (including Caesar's) were usually settled.

Professor Eileen Barker, of the London School of Economics, said it was a shame but the ides probably only had significance for schoolchildren reading Julius Caesar.

"I was thinking about this when I saw what date it was, and I thought no wonder I'm feeling awful," she said.

One significant historical event that fell on the ides of March is, perhaps, worth noting. It was on this day in 1876 that Test cricket was born.

Reason for anyone to beware? Perhaps for the English.

It was against Australia.

[Endeavor]

Yup, we missed you, too. Glad to hear you're at least marginally improving.

[BigWaveBetty]

There are no winners in the Schiavo case, nor in the bedlam that's erupted at this site about it! Very sad.

So sad. I'm glad I've missed most of the bedlam. It's hard enough to watch it all, no need to compound it with getting so angry with those that don't agree with a particular side.

I work out the anger by shouting angrily at those I don't agree with while they're on the tube or radio when no one else is around.

[daisyscarlett]

Good grief...our (California's) very own Gov. Moonbeam is about to get married, to a female, at age 67...Former Governor to Wed

[BigWaveBetty]

I don't get the twins fashion sense. Rarely do they wear anything I like but then I don't like much of the younger fashions these days. But an entire thread about spaghetti straps and the appropriateness of their attire at Easter? Please!

Thanks for the pics!!

[BigWaveBetty]

Hmmmmm, why do you suppose those old Marxists finally come around to such antiquated ways when they start getting up in age? Could it be they don't trust their beloved State to take care of them after a time?

[mountaineer]

It seems like only yesterday he was with Linda Ronstadt!

Gov. Moonbeam is about to get married, to a female ...

Well, that's something, anyway.

[BigWaveBetty]

Going to the doctor next week. I suppose he'll tell me to get a shot of cortisone or some other awful thing. Gives me the willies to think about getting stuck in the elbow with a needle!

[mountaineer]

Oh mercy, you had to mention that. I got a cortisone shot in my foot a few years ago and fainted on the spot. I get woozy just thinking about it.

[BigWaveBetty]

Sweet mercy...

Michael Jackson fan B.J. Hickman of Knoxville, TN breaks down and cries upon hearing that testimony from Jackson's earlier molestation charges will be allowed into the current trial at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria, California on March 28, 2005. Superior Court judge Rodney Melville ruled today that testimony relating to molestation charges brought against Michael Jackson in 1993 will be allowed into the current trial against Jackson. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

I hope these fools can't or don't vote.

[BigWaveBetty]

Now I'm getting woozy just imagining you getting the shot. Mr. B tells me it's no biggie, he got one in his wrist. I don't believe him. It gives me the woozies just to hear him talk about it.

[BigWaveBetty]

Miss Beazley is getting big!

President George W. Bush takes hold of Miss Beazley, one of two presidential dogs, from first lady Laura Bush as they climb into their limousine upon their arrival at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington DC, March 28, 2005. Bush returned to Washington after spending the week of Easter with his family on his Crawford ranch. REUTERS/Jason Reed

[Endeavor]

I don't get the fashions of the young today, either. I hate seeing peoples' bellies and butts hanging out. It's tacky.

I'd prefer to see people dressing like Katharine Hepburn or Audrey Hepburn - pick your Hepburn. Both dressed beautifully.

[Endeavor]

You need to get a cuter foot doctor. Mine is gorgeous and I've got to go in soon and get another cort shot in my heal. That's one doctor's appt I intend to keep!

[BigWaveBetty]

What's the only good thing about rain on the day of the Easter Egg Roll? Cutie pies in colorful raincoats!

Three girls dressed in raincoats take part in the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, March 28, 2005. Heavy rain eventually forced organizers to cut short the traditional event. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

[BigWaveBetty]

I hate seeing peoples' bellies and butts hanging out. It's tacky.

Yes ma'am! Thankfully the twins respect themselves and their families enough to dress appropriately.

So a cute doctor is the answer to the shot? I'll ask for one of those. :-)

[Endeavor]

Yes, a cute doctor works wonders. I wish women would learn that sexy is not letting everything hang out. This is sex appeal:

[Endeavor]

and this:

[BigWaveBetty]

Ahhhh, the good old days, when young women behaved and dressed like ladies.

[BigWaveBetty]

New thread on the way....

[BigWaveBetty]

New Thread!