I was making an appointment for my next haircut at my last appointment (my hair dresser is that popular and busy!) and it happened that it fell on March 15th, the Ides of March. We both commented on it and she said, “I wonder what that means, though?”
I promptly forgot about the discussion – until I read The Memoirs of Cleopatra and the conversation came back to me. Besides the fact that March 15th is the date Caesar was assassinated, did that date have any special meaning?
Nope, apparently not. According to Infoplease, in the Roman calendar the Ides was just a way of marking the middle of the month. In fact, only three days had names – Kalends, the first day; Nones, the 7th or the 5th depending on the month; and Ides, the 15th or the 13th also depending on the month. All the other days were specified by counting forward or backward from one of those days. (Probably a good thing they weren’t quite as time-bound as we are today because could you imagine trying to set a meeting based on a calendar like that??) The rest of the spooky connotation was gifted to us by Shakespeare in the play Julius Caesar and the now famous soothsayer’s warning to Caesar. Funny how that sort of thing sticks around, isn’t it? (Any author’s dream!)
In short, nothing to see here folks, just another day. Unless you happen to be in Rome where the Hash House Harriers do an annual toga run past the spot where Caesar was killed. Think Caesar would be honored, amused, horrified, or just puzzled?
Isn’t it interesting that the only days they gave names to are odd numbered days? Hmmm… what do you suppose that means?
by Katie Hanrahan March 15th, 2010 at 7:30 pmHave you ever seen the Showtime (or is it HBO?) series “Rome”? I thought it was magnificent despite all of the blood and gore. It was very beautiful, and I was really intrigued with the history behind it all.
by Jennifer Elliott March 15th, 2010 at 8:23 pmI haven’t, but I’m much more interested in seeing it since I read “Cleopatra’s Memoirs”.
by Jenyfer March 16th, 2010 at 1:43 amI think it was a lunar thing more than anything else. One of the things that Caesar did was introduce a new calendar which was yet another thing that didn’t increase his popularity amongst his enemies. Another tidbit: Julius Caesar was born in July. Must be fun to be a dictator and name everything after yourself
by Jenyfer March 16th, 2010 at 1:46 am