We depart from our regularly scheduled Word(y)/Wordless or Wish you Were There Wednesday posts on this occasion to acknowledge the Ides of March. Upon doing a little background research, I discovered this date was initially observed as a religious holiday (the Feast of Anna Perenna) with picnics, drinking and revelry celebrated by common people. But then in 44 B.C. it became known more as the assassination date of Julius Caesar. Ah yes, those were the glory days in politics where Twitter hadn’t yet invaded the political discourse. Caesar’s death triggered a civil war which allowed his adopted heir Octavius (later known as Augustus) to rise to power. The Big O waited until the fourth anniversary of Caesar’s death to avenge the death by executing 300 members of those senators and knights who had opposed him. Brutal times those where. Aren’t you glad we’ve evolved? Maybe Twitter isn’t so bad after all?
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Brutal times indeed!
Thank goodness for the evolution of not being able to stab people whom you think are idiots! I’d probably have met my Brutus long ago! Besides, I don’t think I’d look very good in a toga….
But think how comfy a toga would be?!
It isn’t as well known that there are “Ides” in every month…. but the funny thing about them (It? Shouldn’t it be “Ide” if it’s only one day?) is that they are normally on the 13th of every month. March (along with…. going from memory, May, July and October, I think) are the four exceptions where the Ides are celebrated on the 15th…
Hmm, my reaction was that things really aren’t so different now – except that we have twitter and they didn’t back then.
The Ides of March has an interesting history. Thanks fur sharing what you know.
Your Furend
Louis Dog Armstrong
In a way, it’s a good thing that the Feast of Anna Perenna is no more. Can you imagine a celebration with drinking and revelry on the 15th followed two days later with the likes of St. Patrick’s Day festivities? The humans would be basket cases!
LOL, somehow I think there was more than enough festivity going on in Roman times. 🙂
See what seems to be overlooked is the setting of the pattern for future politics – First consolidate your power – then attend to your enemies. Still works :o)
Definitely a tried and true strategy. Then and now.
Politics has always been a nasty business, hasn’t it? It’s proof that we don’t learn from our past mistakes. ☺
No kidding. So much for evolution working. LOL
Et tu, Spoo? Not even a mention of Caesar salad?
LOL, I can always count on a smile from you! Good one. 😁
I loved learning about Julius Caesar and Cleopatra in school.
The Roman Empire is fascinating and explains a lot about how we got to where we are now. 😉
Senators need safe spaces.
Well, I am sure Octavius had his reasons….
Roman empire not withstanding, right?
Exactly! (American Constitution not withstanding, right?)
that O. was a little ungrateful I think… and he ruined a holiday the people spent with picnics and parties… not really a nice guy ;o)
Romans back then were a tad excessive for sure. 😉
That cracked me up!
I don’t know. Maybe that wasn’t so bad after all.
even more dangerous now
These days there are modern day versions of Octavius.
Yeah, ones with nicknames like “Cheeto”.
Bahahaha…I literally laughed out loud at that reference-good one! 😁