Peculiar Facts about the Ides of March
Posted by SwordsSwords on Mar 27th 2020
You may have heard the phrase “Beware the Ides of March." But do you know what it means? Here is your crash course in the history of this month. As you might be stuck in quarantine, nurture your brain with these brainteasers and historic nuggets. You will not only learn cool new things to pass the time but also impress others with your historic knowledge at the next party.
The assassination of Julius Caesar is undoubtedly the most interesting chapter in this month’s history, but many other intriguing events also happened in March. Peruse below through our list of intriguing facts.
1. The Assassination of Julius Caesar
This was one of the most notable events that define the month of March. The Roman Emperor Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C. He was stabbed to death in the Senate House by his closest advisors and friends.2. "Beware the Ides of March"
This phrase has no historical integrity other than being a dialogue in a stage play. This first originated in Shakespeare's account of Caesar being warned by a seer to "beware the Ides of March". Many people believe that this phrase came originally from the Greek historian Plutarch. However, it is not proven yet.3. The Word “Idus”
The word ides comes from the Latin word "idus," which means half-division. The Roman year began in March. And the ides of March usually fell on the 15th. According to legends, the Ides were the day of the first full moon each year.4. “Mars”- The God of War
March is named after Martius- the Roman God of war. In Greek mythology, the same place held by Ares. Mars is characterized by bloodlust, violence, and chaos. Ironically, most of the bloodiest wars in American history also seem to fall on either the beginning or the Ides of March.5. Santa Claus!
According to several sources, St. Nicholas was also born on the Ides of March in 270 AD. He is the inspiration for the popular Christmas mascot, Santa Claus.6. Et Tu, Brute?
It is the phrase most associated with Julius Caesar as Brutus, his most trusted companion, stabbed him. This phrase has become the ultimate declaration of betrayal and heartbreak of a friend. However, the expression is another invention of Shakespearian fiction. It is not historically accurate. The Roman philosophers who present an account of Caesar’s assassination state that he proclaimed nothing of the sort.Few More Intriguing Facts about March
The month of March is certainly full of fascinating events. March is the month that arrives like a lion and departs like a lamb. Here are some facts that support this theory:- The beginning of March in 2007 was truly mind-boggling when reports of an accidental invasion came in. The hilarious event happened when a group of Infantry from Switzerland departed for a training mission. They lost their track and accidentally invaded the neighboring nation of Liechtenstein. Fortunately, the defending army redirected the Swiss soldiers without any undue violence after they explained the situation.
- On 2nd March 2016, Scott Kelly made historic headlines by returning to earth. Scott Kelly is an American Astronaut and has an affiliation with NASA. This trip was so monumental because it had an extraordinary possibility. Kelly spent a full uninterrupted year in space. This gave the scientists the perfect opportunity to study the impact that space travel can have on a body.
- Cinci De Marcho: You might have heard of Cinco De Mayo. But let us tell you about Cinco De Marcho. It is a drinking event and many bars celebrate it as preparation for St. Patrick’s Day. Thus, this celebration usually commences on March 5th.
- A quintessentially American phenomenon of “Day-time Savings” starts in March. The main purpose of this is to benefit from the early rising sun and get more working hours in the day. As the seasons shift, the Americans turn their clocks back an hour.
- For the math nerds in your acquaintance, March 14th is a big holiday. This day is Pi Day Celebration as the date falls on 3/14 which are the first three numerical figures of Pi. Celebrate this occasion with a rowdy discourse of math jokes, pie-baking, and eating contests, as well as pi-reciting marathons.
- There is no single human on the American soil who is unaware of St. Patrick’s Day that falls on March 17th. This is because raucous parades of drunken revelers flood the streets and color the whole view green. If you want to let go of all inhibitions, this is the occasion for you!
- March 19th or 20th usually marks the Vernal Equinox. This happens after the brightest sunlight falls on the equator. According to Greek mythology, it is the day when Persephone returns to earth from the Underworld. As a result, Demeter turns winter into summer. Additionally, the day and night of vernal equinox are the same time-length.