Saturday, March 15, was the Ides of March, and around the world, fans of Shakespeare and Roman history have come together to celebrate the day.
The date is not a holiday but is a historic event recognizing the death of Julius Caesar who “was a celebrated Roman general and statesman, the conqueror of Gaul (58–50 BCE), victor in the civil war of 49–45 BCE, and dictator (46–44 BCE)” who was responsible for many political reforms, according to Britannica.
Caesar was assassinated by nobles in his senate on the Ides of March and remains one of the most recognized figures of Classical antiquity. This event was further expanded on and dramatized by William Shakespere’s play “Julius Caesar.”
In the Shakespearean play, Caesar’s death is foreshadowed by a soothsayer who warns him to “beware the Ides of March.” The Ides of March means the middle of the month or, on a calendar, March 15.
The word “Ides” comes from the Latin word “iduare” meaning “to divide.” Britannica explains how the Roman calendar follows a lunar cycle. The Ides is related to the rise of the full moon in the middle of the month, the Kalends is related to the new moon at the start of the month, and the Nones correspond with the quarter moon phase in the middle of the month. Because of these dates, the Kalends fell on the first of every month, the Nones on the fifth or seventh day, and the Ides on the thirteenth or (in the case of Caesar) the fifteenth of the month.
The Ides of each month is a time for feasts and sacrifices to the god Jupiter, the kind of the gods in Roman myths and the protector of Rome. The Ides of March was the first Ides of the year and was “notable as a day for settling debts,” making the death of Caesar more important than if it were on any other day.
Caesar was murdered most significantly by “senators Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, a group of approximately 60 conspirators,” as stated by Britannica. They stabbed Caesar to death because they believed he was gaining too much power and was close to becoming the King of Rome, destroying the Democratic systems in place.
The death of Caesar started a civil war “that ultimately led to the rise to power of his great-nephew and adopted son, Octavian, who became the first Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar, in 27 BCE.” Octavian avenged Caesar’s death by “sacrificing up to 300 of the Perusine War at an altar raised to Caesar on the Ides of March.”
“I always saw Caesar as someone who was trying to do the right thing, but his senators murdered him,” expressed English teacher Doug Batt.
Shakespeare’s version of the story explores themes of betrayal, ambition, loyalty, and fate. Much like the actual history, the story explores the fall of Caesar as a senate member Cassius conspires with Caesar’s good friend Brutus to stop Caesar from becoming a tyrant.
The play is a tragedy and warns people to understand the differences between fate and free will, ambition and necessity, and the tragedy that may follow mutiny.
It’s similar to all movies about a hero betrayed by their best friend. Think of the movies “Mean Girls” and “Captain America: Civil War” as modern adaptations of the play.
Former English teacher Ilene Austin spoke about the famous “Julius Caesar” quote “Et Tu, Brute” saying, “It means ‘You too, Brutus’ and is all about the shock and betrayal Caesar felt. It’s kind of funny, whenever I feel shocked, surprised, or in dismay that’s the first thing I say in my head.”
So, beware the Ides of March. Watch out for backstabbers and keep yourself grounded or you might end up no different than Caesar.
