Happy Ides of March!

In 44 BCE Gaius Julius Caesar was stabbed to death by a group of Roman senators including Gaius Trebonius, Decimus Junius Brutus, Marcus Junius Brutus, and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Marcus Brutus was Caesar's cousin (& possibly his bastard son) and one of his heirs. Caesar's last words were recorded as "Even you, my child?" by the Greek historian Suetonius, and misquoted as "Et tu, Brute?" ("And you (too), Brutus?") by Shakespere.

Julius Caesar was a Roman General & political leader who conquered Gaul (modern France), portions of Africa & the Middle East, invaded Germania & Britan and worked extensive reforms of Roman society and government. He became Dictator for life but refused to become King of the Romans, he was assassinated to keep him from possibly assuming that role. His death set into motion a civil war that brought down the Roman Republic & set up the Roman Empire under Caesar's Great-Nephew Octavian (Augustus Caesar).

The "Ides" are the 15th of March, May, July & October, and the 13th of the other months. This was considered an auspicious time in the Roman calendar and Caesar might have been going before the Senate to declare himself King. He had taken to wearing the Knee high red boots historically worn by the Kings of Rome and his refusal of the diadem of office might have been a political ploy.

Other Historical Highlights of today are:

• The Turkey Buzzards return to Hinkley, Ohio.
• 1952 - In Cilaos, Réunion (located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar), 73 inches (1,870mm) of rain falls in one day, setting a new world record.
• 1961 - Fabio, model & Romance Novelist, was Born.
• 1970 - The Expo '70 world's fair opens in Osaka, Japan.
  
• 2001 - Ann Sothern, actress, Died. (b. 1909)

2005, Blair laid the smack down on an SBC telemarketer.

Mr. Freelance, is there gonna be a test on all this stuff? :wink:

[ Edited by: DawnTiki on 2005-03-15 09:43 ]

No, but there might be a test on the Roman Calendar system of Kalends, Nones & Ides and the Pontifex Maximus' control of the dates of the Winter feast season...

What ever happened to "World's Fairs"?