A picture taken on February 27, 2019 shows the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. (Photo credit should read Laurent Emmanuel/AFP via Getty Images) Every March 15, the dark history behind the 74th day in the Roman calendar has led many to think of bad omens and doom, but the day has a deep history and purpose.
The date has been used in a variety of media in both theater, television and novels to betray the death of Roman general Julius Caesar.
Spiritual prophecies made during this day about Caesar's death helped the Ides of March stay relevant into modern times. However, the Ides of March had a useful purpose in determining when the full moon would appear for the first time in the year — and it was an important religious date during pre-Christian Rome.
The Ides of March translates in Latin to "Idus Martias," which means the middle of the month in March.The Romans commonly used these terms during this period to define certain points and numerical dates throughout the year.