William Shakespeare immortalized the phrase "ides of March" in his play Julius Caesar. During the play, Caesar asks a soothsayer (or fortune-teller) what his future holds. He is told to "Beware the ides of March!" This line from Shakespeare is likely the reason that we still say "ides of March" today. What exactly are the ides, and why was Caesar told to beware?
The "ides of March" is a phrase meaning the "15th of March." It comes from the ancient Romans. The Roman calendar built its months around three types of days. Those days were called calends (the first day of the month), nones (the seventh day of the month), and ides (either the 13th or 15th day of the month). In March, May, July, and October, the ides fell on the 15th day of the month. The ides were on the 13th day in all of the other months. Romans identified the other days of the month by counting backward or forward from the calends, nones, or ides. For example, a Roman would refer to the 18th of a month as, "three days after the ides."
Every month had an ides. However, the ides of March has historical significance. Julius Caesar died in 44 BC on the 15th of March. That is why the soothsayer in the play told Caesar to "beware the ides of March!"
Aside from the ides of March, the Roman calendar provided the basis of our modern calendar system of 365 days in a year and 366 days in a leap year. The Romans are also responsible for the word calendar, which comes from the word calends.
William Shakespeare immortalized the phrase "ides of March" in his play Julius Caesar. During the play, Caesar asks a soothsayer (or fortune-teller) what his future holds. He is told to "Beware the ides of March!" This line from Shakespeare is likely the reason that we still say "ides of March" today. What exactly are the ides, and why was Caesar told to beware?
The "ides of March" is a phrase meaning the "15th of March." It comes from the ancient Romans. The Roman calendar built its months around three types of days. Those days were called calends (the first day of the month), nones (the seventh day of the month), and ides (either the 13th or 15th day of the month). In March, May, July, and October, the ides fell on the 15th day of the month. The ides were on the 13th day in all of the other months. Romans identified the other days of the month by counting backward or forward from the calends, nones, or ides. For example, a Roman would refer to the 18th of a month as, "three days after the ides."
Every month had an ides. However, the ides of March has historical significance. Julius Caesar died in 44 BC on the 15th of March. That is why the soothsayer in the play told Caesar to "beware the ides of March!"
Aside from the ides of March, the Roman calendar provided the basis of our modern calendar system of 365 days in a year and 366 days in a leap year. The Romans are also responsible for the word calendar, which comes from the word calends.
