Kathryn Ann Welsh, age 12, of Williamsport, Penna., for her question:

What were the Ides of March?

The Old Roman calendar had months, but no weeks. In order. to date the days they counted back from certain fixed points ‑ the calends, the ides and the nones. In the months of March, May, July and October, the ides began. with the 15th day of the month. In all other months, the ides fell on the last day.

We know the Ides of March as the grim date on which Julius Caesar was murdered. The 14th day of March was counted as the day before and the 13th as the 2nd day before the Ides of March. The 8th day before the ides of any month was the hones.

The calends was the first day of every month. Since the Roman days were counted backwards, the l1th day of January was counted as the 19th day before the calends of February. The 2nd day of February was counted as the 3rd day before the hones of February.