Have you ever wondered when the happiest time of day might be? Historical experts reveal that Julius Caesar collaborated with astronomers to revamp the calendar system, transitioning it to a Sun-based model similar to what we use today. These reforms, implemented around 45 BCE, a year before Caesar’s demise, resulted in what we now know as the Julian calendar. This revised system consisted of 365 days, with a leap year inserted every four years to account for the Earth’s completion of its orbit around the Sun in approximately 365.25 days. While modern individuals may view this development as ingenious, historians suggest that this very innovation could have played a role in Caesar’s assassination. The departure from Roman traditions, among other reforms introduced by Caesar, incited traditionalists and ultimately led to his untimely death.
In the wake of Caesar’s passing, the Roman Senate paid tribute by renaming the seventh month from “Quintilis” to “Julius,” later evolving into “July” in English. The Julian calendar remained in use for over 1,600 years until its replacement by the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII and still in use today. The Julian calendar’s practice of adding an extra day to February every four years caused the calendar to fall out of sync with the seasons over time. To rectify this issue, scientist Aloysius Lilius devised a solution, proposing leap days only in years divisible by four, excluding end-of-century years unless divisible by 400. These leap day regulations largely rectified the concerns associated with the Julius system, ensuring better alignment with the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
The Ides of March, signifying the transition from winter to spring in North America, has historically witnessed significant weather occurrences. Notably, March 15 marked the occurrence of the catastrophic “Storm of the Century” in 1993. This unprecedented storm system unleashed heavy snowfall, floods, and strong winds, resulting in over 300 fatalities and approximately $5 billion in damages. The storm’s central pressure rivaled that of a Category 3 hurricane, impacting more than 120 million residents in the eastern United States. Additionally, in 1938, an Ides of March tornado outbreak devastated the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys, claiming numerous lives. Belleville, Illinois, emerged as one of the worst-hit areas, with meteorologists recording wind speeds equivalent to F4 intensity. Similarly, in 1941, a severe blizzard struck the Upper Midwest, accompanied by hurricane-force wind gusts that led to 71 fatalities, as reported by the National Weather Service.
*Maison Carrée, an ancient Roman temple honoring Julius Caesar, built between 4-7 AD and located in Nimes, France, stands as a well-preserved exemplar of Roman architecture.*
Contrary to popular belief, a recent study suggests that the decline of Australia’s large kangaroo population may not
