Everyone knows the Ides of March as the day Julius Caesar was killed in 44 B.C. But what makes March 15th an ides? Ides is actually the singular form of the word. Ides according to the Roman Calendar, was the day of the full moon each month. Most months that meant an ides was actually the 13th day, but its the 15th of March, May, July and October. It also marked the first day of spring for the Roman calendar.

 

The Ides of March was also special to the Romans in that it was the day of the year that the new Consuls (two leaders of Rome) took office. The Consuls would rule jointly for about a year. This is how they kept each other in check. This makes Julius Caesar's assassination being on the Ides of March even more auspicious. It definitely showed that the Roman elite didn't want him as a ruler.

 

The Ides of March is special to me not for these reasons but because its my birthday. I've always known that the 15th is called the Ides of March. Even from a very young age, but not because of Julius Caesar, just that it's special because of me.