Today is March 15, also known as the Ides of March—a day that serves as a reminder to be cautious about whom you trust, especially those closest to you. History has taught us that betrayal doesn’t always come from enemies. Sometimes, it comes from friends. This is a day famously associated with backstabbing… quite literally.
Originally, the Ides of March was often a day of religious observance in ancient Rome. It later became infamous because it marks the date of Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BCE.
The phrase was immortalized by William Shakespeare in his play Julius Caesar. In the story, Caesar is warned by a Soothsayer, “Beware the Ides of March.” Caesar dismisses the warning, brushing it off by claiming the soothsayer is nothing more than a dreamer. On the fateful day itself, Caesar confidently declares, “The Ides of March are come,” to which the Soothsayer chillingly replies, “Ay, Caesar; but not gone.”
What follows is one of the most famous betrayals in history. Caesar is assassinated by a group of conspirators—many of them his closest friends and allies—including his trusted companion Marcus Brutus. This betrayal gives us one of literature’s most iconic lines, spoken by Caesar in the play: “Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!”
In the Roman calendar, every month had an Ides, though not all fell on the same day. March’s Ides occurred on the 15th, while in shorter months the Ides fell on the 13th. The Romans counted days differently than we do today, tracking time backward from fixed points rather than forward in numbered dates.
So whatever you do today, beware of the Ides of March—especially if a group of friends approaches you bearing knives. Don’t turn your back.
Stay Geeky!