Posted on 03/15/2005 9:07:04 AM PST by Captain Peter Blood
Cave!
Pretty silly if you ask me.
We might beware the 15th of April, but that's Tax Day, not the Ides.
"We might beware the 15th of April, but that's Tax Day, not the Ides."
I guess that would be the Ides of April. But if your from the Lone Star State, the Ides of Texas are always upon you.
I think you are right - unless you are a mafia styled dictator, you don't have anything to worry about.
Today is my 20th birthday. The world must beware, because the next Ides of March, I turn 21, and this neocon will have some fun!
April 15th is the Ides of April.
Beware the ides of donuts. Does that make you feel better?
Also happens to be my birthday. So you should be nice to me and wish me many happy returns.
The Romans did not count the days in a month straight through as we do from 1 to 30 or 31 ( or 1 to 28 or 29 for February), but they divided each month up into three parts and reckoned their days as so many days before each of these three divisions, except for February which had a special system of its own. The three dividing days in the months were the Kalends which always fell on the first of each month; the Nones, which in March, May, July and October were on the 7th of each month, but in all the other months on the 5th; and the Ides, which in March, May, July, and October were on the 15th but in all the rest on the 13th. Thus, July 4th would be written as IV ante nonas; 8th August would be VI ante idus; 24th February would be VI ante kalendas Martias with posteriorem added in a leap year. ~ F.R. Cowell - Life In Ancient Rome
Happy Birthday to YOU!!!
It's my birthday too. (In fact, I had it first!)
Nicolaus of Damascus wrote his account of the murder of Caesar a few years after the event. He was not actually present when the assassination occurred but had the opportunity to speak with those who were. He was a friend of Herod the Great and gathered his information during a visit to Rome. His account is thought to be reliable.
The Plan:"The conspirators never met openly, but they assembled a few at a time in each others' homes. There were many discussions and proposals, as might be expected, while they investigated how and where to execute their design. Some suggested that they should make the attempt as he was going along the Sacred Way, which was one of his favorite walks. Another idea was for it to be done at the elections during which he bad to cross a bridge to appoint the magistrates in the Campus Martius; they should draw lots for some to push him from the bridge and for others to run up and kill him. A third plan was to wait for a coming gladiatorial show. The advantage of that would be that, because of the show, no suspicion would be aroused if arms were seen prepared for the attempt. But the majority opinion favored killing him while he sat in the Senate, where he would be by himself since non-Senators would not be admitted, and where the many conspirators could hide their daggers beneath their togas. This plan won the day."
Brutus Persuades Caesar to Ignore his Apprehensions:
"...his friends were alarmed at certain rumors and tried to stop him going to the Senate-house, as did his doctors, for he was suffering from one of his occasional dizzy spells. His wife, Calpurnia, especially, who was frightened by some visions in her dreams, clung to him and said that she would not let him go out that day. But Brutus, one of the conspirators who was then thought of as a firm friend, came up and said, 'What is this, Caesar? Are you a man to pay attention to a woman's dreams and the idle gossip of stupid men, and to insult the Senate by not going out, although it has honored you and has been specially summoned by you? But listen to me, cast aside the forebodings of all these people, and come. The Senate has been in session waiting for you since early this morning.' This swayed Caesar and he left."
Bad Omens:
"Before he entered the chamber, the priests brought up the victims for him to make what was to be his last sacrifice. The omens were clearly unfavorable. After this unsuccessful sacrifice, the priests made repeated other ones, to see if anything more propitious might appear than what had already been revealed to them. In the end they said that they could not clearly see the divine intent, for there was some transparent, malignant spirit hidden in the victims. Caesar was annoyed and abandoned divination till sunset, though the priests continued all the more with their efforts.
Those of the murderers present were delighted at all this, though Caesar's friends asked him to put off the meeting of the Senate for that day because of what the priests had said, and he agreed to do this. But some attendants came up, calling him and saying that the Senate was full. He glanced at his friends, but Brutus approached him again and said, 'Come, good sir, pay no attention to the babblings of these men, and do not postpone what Caesar and his mighty power has seen fit to arrange. Make your own courage your favorable omen.' He convinced Caesar with these words, took him by the right hand, and led him to the Senate which was quite near. Caesar followed in silence."
The Attack:
"The Senate rose in respect for his position when they saw him entering. Those who were to have part in the plot stood near him. Right next to him went Tillius Cimber, whose brother had been exiled by Caesar. Under pretext of a humble request on behalf of this brother, Cimber approached and grasped the mantle of his toga, seeming to want to make a more positive move with his hands upon Caesar. Caesar wanted to get up and use his hands, but was prevented by Cimber and became exceedingly annoyed.
That was the moment for the men to set to work. All quickly unsheathed their daggers and rushed at him First Servilius Casca struck him with the point of the blade on the left shoulder a little above the collar-bone. He had been aiming for that, but in the excitement he missed. Caesar rose to defend himself, and in the uproar Casca shouted out in Greek to his brother. The latter heard him and drove his sword into the ribs. After a moment, Cassius made a slash at his face, and Decimus Brutus pierced him in the side. While Cassius Longinus was trying to give him another blow he missed and struck Marcus Brutus on the hand. Minucius also hit out at Caesar and hit Rubrius in the thigh. They were just like men doing battle against him.
Under the mass of wounds, he fell at the foot of Pompey's statue. Everyone wanted to seem to have had some part in the murder, and there was not one of them who failed to strike his body as it lay there, until, wounded thirty-five times, he breathed his last. "
Captain Blood,
Great post.
I have asked both of my young children each year to beware. My eight year old son got it this morning, and smiled broadly and mischievously.
As it happens my wife is a Roman, and has a somewhat lean and hungry look.
Many thanks to Jordan8 for more than we need to know but all I am keen to find out.
Beware the Ides of March? They did a pretty good song:
Hey, well I'm the friendly stranger in the black sedan
Oh won't you hop inside my car
I got pictures, got candy, I am a lovable man
I'd like to take you to the nearest star
I'm your vehicle baby
I'll take you anywhere you wanna go
I'm your vehicle woman
By now I'm sure you know
That I love ya (love you)
I need ya (need you)
I want to, got to have you child
Great God in heaven, you know I love you
Well if you want to be a movie star
I got the ticket to Hollywood
Well if you want to stay just like you are
You know I think you really should
I'm your vehicle baby
I'll take you anywhere you wanna go
I'm your vehicle woman
By now I'm sure you know
That I love ya (love you)
I need ya (need you)
I want to, got to have you child
Great God in heaven, you know I love you
Oh you know I do
Well I'm the friendly stranger in the black sedan
Oh won't you hop inside my car
I got pictures, candy, I am a lovable man
I'd like to take you to the nearest star
I'm your vehicle babe
I'll take you anywhere you wanna go
I'm your vehicle woman
By now I'm sure you know
That I love ya (love you)
I need ya (need you)
I want to, I got to have ya
Great God in heaven, you know I love you
And I'm your vehicle babe
You know I love ya (love you)
I need ya (need you)
I want to, got to have you child
Great God in heaven, you know I love you
Don't I know it! I got to play the trombone solo for Vehicle in pep band!
I thought I heard that March 15 was originally Tax Day but they moved it because of the whole "beware the ides of March" deal...?
LOL!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.