Home > Weird and Wonderful > Ides of March

Beware The Ides of March

Question: What are the Ides of March?

Answer: In the ancient Roman calendar, each of the 12 months of the year had what was called an "ides." In March, May, July and October, the "ides" fell on the 15th day. In every other month, the "ides" fell on the 13th. The word "ides" was derived from the Latin "to divide."

The "ides" were originally meant to mark the full moon - but since the solar calendar months and lunar months were of different lengths, the "ides" quickly lost their original intent and purpose.

As for the ominous warning, "Beware the Ides of March," it originated with the Roman ruler, Julius Caesar, who was assassinated on the Ides of March - March 15, 44 B.C.E. (Old Style).

If you've heard the ominous warning, then it's most likely due to William Shakespeare and his famous play, Julius Caesar. The warning was made famous in Shakespeare's play, when an unidentified soothsayer tells Caesar, who is on his way to the Senate (and his death), "Beware the ides of March." Caesar replies, "He is a dreamer; let us leave him. Pass."

Unknown Soothsayer Was The Roman Astrologer Spurinna
According to historical writer C.J.S. Thompson, Ph.D. in The Mystery and Romance of Astrology, 1929, the unidentified soothsayer from Shakespeare's play was a Roman astrologer by the name of Spurinna.

According to Thompson - and confirmed in Plutarch's account of the story written in 75 A.D. and Suetonius in 110 A.D. - it was sometime prior to the fateful day of March 15 that Spurinna had first given Caesar the famous warning to "beware of the Ides of March."

The astrologer, Spurinna, had previously warned Caesar that on "the Ides of March," he would be in great danger. If, however, Julius Caesar took care on that one day - then all would be well.

The Prediction
This ominous prediction by the astrologer Spurinna shouldn't have come as too much of a shock and/or revelation for Caesar. It was no secret to anyone, including Caesar, that he'd been making some pretty serious political enemies in recent times,

The seemingly precise timing of the prediction, the Ides of March, was likely based on the fact that Julius Caesar had plans to next attend the Roman Senate on March 15 and then leave Rome on March 18th for a military campaign, leaving all of his many political enemies far behind him.

According To Plutarch
According to Plutarch's account, Caesar had previously made the wise decision to stay within the safety of his bedroom chambers on the 15th of March. However, Caesar's "friend" Decimus (Albinus) Brutus (not Marcus Brutus) managed to convince him that the astrologer's warnings were nothing more than superstitious foolishness.

So Julius Caesar decided to attend the Senate on the 15th of March. On his way to the Senate, Caesar "accidentally" met up with the astrologer. Upon seeing Spurinna, Caesar confidently informed the astrologer: "The Ides of March are come."

Spurinna replied, "Yes, they are come, but they are not past."

Later that day - on March 15, 44 B.C.E (Old Style) - Caesar's enemies assassinated him in the Pompey theater, at the foot of Pompey's statue, where the Roman Senate was meeting that day in the temple of Venus.

Alternative Theory
So an alternative (albeit somewhat dubious) theory, as to why Caesar might have "seemingly" ignored the ominous warning of the astrologer Spurinna, is that perhaps Julius Caesar got the dates of the warning mixed up. In March, May, July and October, the "ides" fell on the 15th day. In every other month, the "ides" fell on the 13th. He may have been thinking that the Ides of March fell on the 13th rather than the 15th.

Using this theory, forgetful Caesar would have been very careful and stayed home on the 13th of March, but on the 15th of March his guard was down.

<< back to Weird and Wonderful