Idus Martiae

"Beware the Ides of March!"


These are the words spoken by a soothsayer warning Julius Caesar of his immenent death on the 15th of March, in William Shakespere's famous play.

Extract taken from Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 2:


Soothsayer

Caesar!

CAESAR

Ha! who calls?

CASCA

Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!

CAESAR

Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.

Soothsayer

Beware the ides of March.

CAESAR

What man is that?

BRUTUS

A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.

CAESAR

Set him before me; let me see his face.

CASSIUS

Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.

CAESAR

What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.

Soothsayer

Beware the ides of March.

CAESAR

He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.

Sennet. Exeunt all except BRUTUS and CASSIUS

Of course nobody believes soothsayers! So obviously Caesar went on to meet his fate. It is said that Caesar was murdered at Pompey's theatre, located in a small archeaological site in the middle of present day down town Rome. I took some pictures of (what I thought at the time) were some quite uninspiring looking ruins... not suspecting until later the true significance of the sight!