Enjoy some pi; beware the Ides.
March 15th, 2009 by Liz
Yesterday was Pi Day, or as it is more commonly known: March 14th. In case you didn’t have enough fun with Square Root Day on March 3rd, you had a second chance at some math dating yesterday.
So what is Pi Day? As shared by WikiAnswers.com – in case you didn’t pay attention in math class:
Pi Day is celebrating the mathematical constant π (pi). It is officially observed on March 14, 3/14 being the first three digits of the numerical value pi.
For more on the topic of Pi, read up on Answers.com.
But now, we move on to today – March 15th – the Ides of March. Remember when Shakespeare told us to beware this day? Do you remember exactly why? It has to do with the Roman calendar and what were considered unlucky days of the year…
So what are the Ides of March? As told by WikiAnswers.com:
The ides were the 15th days of long months (including Martius, or March) in the ancient Roman lunar calendar; they were the 13th in other months. The word ides comes from the Latin word idus, which is possibly derived from an Etruscan word meaning “to divide.”
The Ides of March – or March 15th – is known throughout history for being an ill-fated day. Julius Caesar was assassinated on this date in 44 B.C. Historians have noted the likeliness that a soothsayer named Spurinna warned Caesar that danger would occur by the Ides of March.
