Beware the Ides of March

The Julien calendar used after 46 BC is the one which was used in the time of Julius Caesar. Caesar was told in both William Shakespeare’s play, and apparently in real life as well, to beware the ides of March. He failed to be particularly ware and was assassinated on this day. In the play, a fortune teller or soothsayer warns him pretty much on the day and, in real life, the astrologically savvy individual told him the ides were a day of danger well in advance. Because the Julien calendar is almost completely incomprehensible, there are those who believe that Caesar did not ignore the warning but rather screwed up whether March was a month where the ides fell on the 15th or the 13th. The ides is theoretically based on when the half moon falls each month, but the Roman calendar is so confused and was edited and adjusted so often, that it is no surprise someone could goof and show up on murder day when they had meant to play hookie from Senate on that occasion. Mind you the Julian calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar, so he is as responsible as anybody for any confusion which ensued.