The Ides of March Dean Cheeseman
The Ides of March is best known as the date on which Julius Caesar was stabbed and assassinated March 15th , 44 BC at a meeting of the Roman Senate . It was led by Brutus and Cassius and as many as 60 others joined in on the fun . These Romans don ’ t mess around .
His death triggered the civil war that would result in the rise to sole power of his adopted heir , Octavian ( later known as Augustus ) and was a key event that marked the transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire . By the way , how could the Roman Senate get 60 people to agree when our United States Senate can ’ t even agree on lunch ?
Julius was possibly the greatest Caesar the world has ever known . He was much greater than Augustus Caesar who succeeded him , which is why on the calendar July ( Julius ) always comes before August ( Augustus ). He was greater than Cardini Caesar , the inventor of the Caesar salad and maybe even greater than Little Caesar , who founded Little Caesar ’ s Pizza .
The Ides occurred on the 13th for most months and fell on the 15th for March , May , July , and October . It was determined by the full moon and reflected the lunar origin of the Roman calendar . It was also the day Romans settled their taxes , which could be why the Senate was ornery that day .
Many historians think Julius Caesar didn ’ t actually die from stab wounds by Brutus , but was poisoned . Apparently , during a huge ( Romans did everything big ) feast which both Julius and Brutus attended on that Ides of March , Brutus slipped some poisonous hemlock leaves onto Julius ' salad ( hence the world ' s first Caesar ' s salad ).
After Julius ate the salad he collapsed . Brutus pretended to be concerned and asked , " My dear friend Julius , how many hemlock leaves have you eaten ?" To which Julius gasped in reply : " Ate two , Brute ."
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