Knowledge

Alea iacta est

Source 📝

36: 136: 1470: 401: 1071: 682: 630: 29: 315:), which they translate as "Let the die be cast!", or "Let the game be ventured!". This matches Plutarch's use of third-person singular 113:, Caesar originally said the line in Greek rather than Latin. The Latin version is now most commonly cited with the word order changed ( 693: 362:
were common in Roman times and were usually cast three at a time. There were two kinds. The six-sided dice were known in Latin as
1345: 1101: 953: 827: 850: 1360: 715: 1388: 887: 771: 1507: 1190: 749: 1502: 119:), and it is used both in this form, and in translation in many languages, to indicate that events have passed a 1355: 877: 1011: 198:
He declared in Greek with loud voice to those who were present "Let a die be cast" and led the army across.
1146: 1444: 1196: 1139: 1026: 820: 732: 229:
Then speaking like a man inspired, he surged across, uttering the familiar phrase, "Let the die be cast".
587:
Casali, Sergio (2018). "Caesar's Poetry in its Context". In Grillo, Luca; Krebs, Christopher B. (eds.).
93:. With this step, he entered Italy at the head of his army in defiance of the Senate and began his long 1350: 1319: 1303: 1031: 727: 270: 668: 1497: 1380: 1293: 1232: 895: 249:, a contemporary of Plutarch and Appian, writing in Latin, has the quote in Latin instead of Greek: 1298: 1227: 923: 35: 40: 663:. Loeb Classical Library. Translated by McGing, Brian. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 456:, saying that he is "ranked with the highest", but despite this is only a "half-sized Menander". 1475: 1408: 1159: 1125: 1088: 813: 791: 22: 610: 988: 938: 865: 419: 94: 1449: 978: 958: 870: 162: 124: 8: 1016: 1001: 943: 933: 928: 406: 1253: 996: 968: 948: 918: 913: 754: 698: 616: 559: 448: 294: 120: 1398: 1248: 1107: 1053: 1043: 855: 316: 224:καὶ εἰπὼν οἷά τις ἔνθους ἐπέρα σὺν ὁρμῇ, τὸ κοινὸν τόδε ἐπειπών· «Ὁ κύβος ἀνερρίφθω». 1393: 1183: 1048: 1006: 973: 664: 592: 135: 1454: 1212: 1058: 1021: 759: 737: 703: 470: 319: 301: 297: 284: 173: 1413: 1273: 1222: 1038: 345: 158: 90: 69: 596: 1491: 836: 723: 165:, whom he considered a great playwright. The phrase appears in the lost play 78: 358:
refers to a game with dice and, more generally, a game of hazard or chance.
287:, citing Casaubon and Ruhnk, suggest that the text of Suetonius should read 1258: 414: 140: 1434: 1217: 1153: 905: 860: 1429: 1263: 1095: 495: 1439: 1403: 1324: 465: 443: 369: 264: 246: 102: 74: 1329: 1288: 1132: 963: 800: 475: 439: 203: 178: 154: 110: 106: 453: 86: 28:"The die is cast" redirects here. For the Star Trek episode, see 805: 234: 215: 98: 772: 716: 503: 485: 479: 384: 379: 335: 329: 323: 222: 191: 185: 166: 59: 442:
is known from one of Caesar's poems, which was preserved in
359: 55: 21:"Alea Jacta Est" redirects here. For the WarCry album, see 589:
The Cambridge Companion to the Writings of Julius Caesar
218:, also writing in Greek, reports a very similar phrase: 187:Ἑλληνιστὶ πρὸς τοὺς παρόντας ἐκβοήσας, «Ἀνερρίφθω κύβος» 396: 123:. The same event inspired another related idiom, " 669:10.4159/DLCL.appian-roman_history_civil_wars.2020 153:Caesar was said to have borrowed the phrase from 1489: 591:. Cambridge University Press. pp. 208–209. 552:Scarce three of thirty ships are lost or wreck'd 661:Roman History, Volume IV: Civil Wars, Books 1–2 612:The Deipnosophists; or, Banquet of the Learned 821: 554:But scarcely one poor husband 'scapes at all. 546:But you are taking arms, with no good reason, 181:reports that these words were said in Greek: 85:January 49 BC, as he led his army across the 544:Go on then. I do wish you then well over it; 474:(book 13, paragraph 8) quotes a dialogue in 30:The Die Is Cast (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) 619:. London: Henry G. Bohn. 1854. p. 895. 524:You will not marry if you're in your senses 373: 363: 353: 310: 304: 288: 268: 253: 144: 114: 63: 47: 828: 814: 526:When you have left this life. For I myself 452:. In the poem, he praises the playwright 582: 580: 134: 105:. The phrase was a quote from a play by 34: 1072:Planned invasion of the Parthian Empire 797:by Suetonius, where the quote is found. 752:. Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short. 696:. Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short. 548:Against a sea of troubles. In the waves 1490: 658: 586: 536:The matter is decided—the die is cast. 255:Caesar: "... iacta alea est", inquit. 809: 577: 528:Did marry; so I recommend you not to. 344: 259:Caesar said, "The die has been cast". 68: 1389:Cultural depictions of Julius Caesar 372:(rounded at each end) were known as 130: 13: 801:Reference to Augustus playing Alea 139:The motto of the Hall family from 14: 1519: 1191:Ut est rerum omnium magister usus 835: 785: 1469: 1468: 399: 765: 743: 709: 647:Sayings of Kings & Emperors 550:Of the deep Libyan or Ægean sea 687: 675: 652: 635: 623: 603: 459: 432: 277:The Life of the Deified Julius 58:is cast") is a variation of a 1: 615:. Vol. 3. Translated by 570: 346:[aner̥ːǐːpʰtʰɔːkýbos] 1346:Gaius Julius Caesar (father) 1147:Commentarii de Bello Gallico 504: 496:The Bearer of Ritual Objects 480: 385: 336: 167: 70:[ˈjaktaˈaːlɛ.aˈɛs̺t] 7: 1140:Commentarii de Bello Civili 392: 309:instead of the present one 10: 1524: 773: 717: 486: 380: 330: 324: 223: 192: 186: 27: 20: 1463: 1422: 1373: 1338: 1312: 1281: 1272: 1241: 1205: 1168: 1117: 1080: 987: 904: 886: 843: 597:10.1017/9781139151160.015 1508:Quotations from military 1228:Temple of Venus Genetrix 681:Perseus Digital Library 629:Perseus Digital Library 425: 1503:Quotes by Julius Caesar 733:A Greek–English Lexicon 512:The Female Flute-Player 438:Caesar's admiration of 322:imperative of the verb 279:), 121 AD, paragraph 32 1409:Julio-Claudian dynasty 1233:Caesar's Rhine bridges 1160:Poems by Julius Caesar 1126:Laudatio Iuliae amitae 1102:Constitutional reforms 1089:Lex Julia de maiestate 466:Athenaeus of Naucratis 374: 364: 354: 311: 305: 289: 282: 269: 254: 244: 213: 193:διεβίβαζε τὸν στρατόν. 150: 145: 115: 64: 48: 44: 23:Alea Jacta Est (album) 851:Early life and career 724:Liddell, Henry George 420:List of Latin phrases 378:. In Greek a die was 251: 220: 183: 138: 38: 1450:Marcus Junius Brutus 1361:Julia Minor (sister) 1356:Julia Major (sister) 954:Invasions of Britain 871:Crossing the Rubicon 641:See also Plutarch's 125:crossing the Rubicon 1289:Cossutia (disputed) 617:Yonge, Charles Duke 407:Ancient Rome portal 337:anerrhī́phthō kýbos 293:(reading the third- 109:, and according to 43:die, made from lead 1330:Augustus (adopted) 1254:Chiaramonti Caesar 1032:Battle of the Nile 888:Military campaigns 866:Caesar's civil war 755:A Latin Dictionary 699:A Latin Dictionary 560:Charles Duke Yonge 449:The Twelve Caesars 151: 121:point of no return 45: 1485: 1484: 1369: 1368: 1249:Tusculum portrait 1108:Dictator perpetuo 1067: 1066: 959:Ambiorix's revolt 856:First Triumvirate 844:Major life events 131:Meaning and forms 1515: 1498:Latin quotations 1472: 1471: 1394:Temple of Caesar 1351:Aurelia (mother) 1279: 1278: 1184:Veni, vidi, vici 902: 901: 830: 823: 816: 807: 806: 779: 776: 775: 769: 763: 747: 741: 720: 719: 713: 707: 691: 685: 679: 673: 672: 656: 650: 639: 633: 631:Plut. Pomp. 60.2 627: 621: 620: 607: 601: 600: 584: 564: 516: 513: 510: 507: 501: 498: 493: 489: 488: 483: 463: 457: 436: 409: 404: 403: 402: 388: 383: 382: 377: 367: 357: 348: 343: 339: 333: 332: 327: 326: 314: 308: 292: 280: 274: 257: 242: 226: 225: 211: 195: 194: 189: 188: 170: 148: 118: 84: 73:) attributed by 72: 67: 53: 1523: 1522: 1518: 1517: 1516: 1514: 1513: 1512: 1488: 1487: 1486: 1481: 1459: 1455:Curia of Pompey 1418: 1365: 1334: 1308: 1268: 1237: 1213:Forum of Caesar 1201: 1164: 1113: 1076: 1063: 1022:Alexandrian war 983: 900: 882: 839: 834: 788: 783: 782: 770: 766: 760:Perseus Project 748: 744: 738:Perseus Project 714: 710: 704:Perseus Project 692: 688: 680: 676: 659:Appian (2020). 657: 653: 640: 636: 628: 624: 609: 608: 604: 585: 578: 573: 568: 567: 558:Translation by 553: 551: 549: 547: 545: 538: 530: 527: 525: 514: 511: 508: 499: 494: 491: 471:Deipnosophistae 464: 460: 437: 433: 428: 405: 400: 398: 395: 370:four-sided ones 341: 331:ἀνερρίφθω κύβος 290:iacta alea esto 285:Lewis and Short 281: 263: 258: 243: 233: 228: 227: 212: 202: 197: 196: 174:Deipnosophistae 171:, as quoted in 133: 82: 33: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1521: 1511: 1510: 1505: 1500: 1483: 1482: 1480: 1479: 1464: 1461: 1460: 1458: 1457: 1452: 1447: 1442: 1437: 1432: 1426: 1424: 1420: 1419: 1417: 1416: 1414:Caesar (title) 1411: 1406: 1401: 1399:Caesar's Comet 1396: 1391: 1386: 1382:Life of Caesar 1377: 1375: 1371: 1370: 1367: 1366: 1364: 1363: 1358: 1353: 1348: 1342: 1340: 1336: 1335: 1333: 1332: 1327: 1322: 1316: 1314: 1310: 1309: 1307: 1306: 1301: 1296: 1291: 1285: 1283: 1276: 1270: 1269: 1267: 1266: 1261: 1256: 1251: 1245: 1243: 1239: 1238: 1236: 1235: 1230: 1225: 1223:Basilica Julia 1220: 1215: 1209: 1207: 1203: 1202: 1200: 1199: 1194: 1187: 1180: 1177:Alea iacta est 1172: 1170: 1166: 1165: 1163: 1162: 1157: 1150: 1143: 1136: 1129: 1121: 1119: 1115: 1114: 1112: 1111: 1104: 1099: 1092: 1084: 1082: 1078: 1077: 1075: 1074: 1068: 1065: 1064: 1062: 1061: 1056: 1051: 1046: 1041: 1036: 1035: 1034: 1029: 1019: 1014: 1009: 1004: 999: 993: 991: 985: 984: 982: 981: 976: 971: 966: 961: 956: 951: 946: 941: 936: 931: 926: 921: 916: 910: 908: 899: 898: 892: 890: 884: 883: 881: 880: 875: 874: 873: 863: 858: 853: 847: 845: 841: 840: 833: 832: 825: 818: 810: 804: 803: 798: 795:, paragraph 32 787: 786:External links 784: 781: 780: 764: 742: 708: 686: 674: 651: 643:Life of Caesar 634: 622: 602: 575: 574: 572: 569: 566: 565: 502:; also titled 458: 430: 429: 427: 424: 423: 422: 417: 411: 410: 394: 391: 320:middle/passive 271:Vita Divi Iuli 261: 239:The Civil Wars 231: 208:Life of Pompey 200: 146:jacta est alea 132: 129: 116:Alea iacta est 91:Northern Italy 65:iacta alea est 50:Alea iacta est 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1520: 1509: 1506: 1504: 1501: 1499: 1496: 1495: 1493: 1478: 1477: 1473: 1466: 1465: 1462: 1456: 1453: 1451: 1448: 1446: 1443: 1441: 1438: 1436: 1433: 1431: 1428: 1427: 1425: 1421: 1415: 1412: 1410: 1407: 1405: 1402: 1400: 1397: 1395: 1392: 1390: 1387: 1385: 1383: 1379: 1378: 1376: 1372: 1362: 1359: 1357: 1354: 1352: 1349: 1347: 1344: 1343: 1341: 1337: 1331: 1328: 1326: 1323: 1321: 1318: 1317: 1315: 1311: 1305: 1302: 1300: 1297: 1295: 1292: 1290: 1287: 1286: 1284: 1280: 1277: 1275: 1271: 1265: 1262: 1260: 1257: 1255: 1252: 1250: 1247: 1246: 1244: 1240: 1234: 1231: 1229: 1226: 1224: 1221: 1219: 1216: 1214: 1211: 1210: 1208: 1204: 1198: 1195: 1193: 1192: 1188: 1186: 1185: 1181: 1179: 1178: 1174: 1173: 1171: 1167: 1161: 1158: 1156: 1155: 1151: 1149: 1148: 1144: 1142: 1141: 1137: 1135: 1134: 1130: 1128: 1127: 1123: 1122: 1120: 1116: 1110: 1109: 1105: 1103: 1100: 1098: 1097: 1093: 1091: 1090: 1086: 1085: 1083: 1079: 1073: 1070: 1069: 1060: 1057: 1055: 1052: 1050: 1047: 1045: 1042: 1040: 1037: 1033: 1030: 1028: 1025: 1024: 1023: 1020: 1018: 1015: 1013: 1010: 1008: 1005: 1003: 1000: 998: 995: 994: 992: 990: 986: 980: 977: 975: 972: 970: 967: 965: 962: 960: 957: 955: 952: 950: 947: 945: 942: 940: 937: 935: 932: 930: 927: 925: 922: 920: 917: 915: 912: 911: 909: 907: 903: 897: 894: 893: 891: 889: 885: 879: 878:Assassination 876: 872: 869: 868: 867: 864: 862: 859: 857: 854: 852: 849: 848: 846: 842: 838: 837:Julius Caesar 831: 826: 824: 819: 817: 812: 811: 808: 802: 799: 796: 794: 790: 789: 777: 768: 761: 757: 756: 751: 746: 739: 735: 734: 729: 728:Scott, Robert 725: 721: 712: 705: 701: 700: 695: 690: 684: 683:Suet. Jul. 32 678: 670: 666: 662: 655: 648: 644: 638: 632: 626: 618: 614: 613: 606: 598: 594: 590: 583: 581: 576: 563: 561: 556: 555: 541: 537: 533: 529: 521: 506: 497: 482: 477: 473: 472: 467: 462: 455: 451: 450: 445: 441: 435: 431: 421: 418: 416: 413: 412: 408: 397: 390: 387: 376: 371: 366: 361: 356: 350: 347: 338: 321: 318: 313: 307: 303: 299: 296: 291: 286: 278: 273: 272: 266: 260: 256: 250: 248: 240: 236: 230: 219: 217: 209: 205: 199: 182: 180: 176: 175: 169: 164: 160: 157:, the famous 156: 147: 142: 137: 128: 126: 122: 117: 112: 108: 104: 100: 96: 92: 88: 80: 79:Julius Caesar 76: 71: 66: 61: 57: 52: 51: 42: 37: 31: 24: 19: 1474: 1467: 1381: 1259:Green Caesar 1189: 1182: 1176: 1175: 1152: 1145: 1138: 1131: 1124: 1106: 1094: 1087: 793:Divus Iulius 792: 767: 753: 745: 731: 711: 697: 689: 677: 660: 654: 646: 642: 637: 625: 611: 605: 588: 557: 543: 539: 535: 531: 523: 519: 518: 469: 461: 447: 434: 415:Aleatoricism 351: 283: 276: 252: 245: 238: 221: 214: 207: 184: 172: 152: 141:Shackerstone 49: 46: 18: 16:Latin phrase 1435:Mark Antony 1384:by Plutarch 1218:Curia Julia 1154:De analogia 1081:Legislation 1012:Dyrrhachium 979:Uxellodunum 906:Gallic Wars 861:Gallic wars 645:32.8.4 and 1492:Categories 1430:Julia gens 1264:Arles bust 1197:Last words 1096:Lex Roscia 1002:Brundisium 571:References 481:Arrephoros 342:pronounced 302:imperative 168:Arrephoros 161:writer of 1440:Cleopatra 1404:Caesarism 1325:Caesarion 1304:Calpurnia 1242:Portraits 1206:Buildings 1017:Pharsalus 997:Corfinium 989:Civil War 944:Octodurus 718:ἀναρρίπτω 487:Ἀρρηφόρος 444:Suetonius 352:In Latin 325:ἀναρρίπτω 265:Suetonius 247:Suetonius 103:Optimates 95:civil war 89:river in 75:Suetonius 1476:Category 1445:Servilia 1313:Children 1294:Cornelia 1133:Anticato 969:Gergovia 964:Avaricum 949:Morbihan 939:Atuatuci 919:Bibracte 896:Mytilene 562:(1854). 505:Auletris 476:Menander 440:Menander 393:See also 368:and the 365:tesserae 298:singular 262:—  232:—  210:, 60.2.9 204:Plutarch 201:—  179:Plutarch 163:comedies 155:Menander 111:Plutarch 107:Menander 101:and the 97:against 62:phrase ( 1423:Related 1299:Pompeia 1054:Thapsus 1049:Corduba 1044:Ruspina 736:at the 454:Terence 328:, i.e. 317:perfect 300:future 87:Rubicon 1374:Legacy 1274:Family 1169:Quotes 1007:Ilerda 974:Alesia 924:Vosges 295:person 241:, 2.35 235:Appian 216:Appian 143:reads 99:Pompey 83:  54:("The 1339:Other 1320:Julia 1282:Wives 1118:Works 1059:Munda 1027:Siege 934:Sabis 929:Axona 774:κύβος 649:206c. 426:Notes 386:kybos 381:κύβος 159:Greek 81:on 10 60:Latin 41:Roman 1039:Zela 914:Arar 750:alea 694:alea 375:tali 360:Dice 355:alea 306:esto 758:on 702:on 665:doi 593:doi 517:): 478:'s 446:'s 349:). 312:est 190:, 127:". 77:to 56:die 1494:: 730:; 726:; 722:. 579:^ 542:: 534:: 522:: 490:, 468:' 389:. 340:, 267:, 237:, 206:, 177:. 39:A 829:e 822:t 815:v 778:. 762:. 740:. 706:. 671:. 667:: 599:. 595:: 540:A 532:B 520:A 515:' 509:' 500:' 492:' 484:( 334:( 275:( 149:. 32:. 25:.

Index

Alea Jacta Est (album)
The Die Is Cast (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Roman
die
Latin
[ˈjaktaˈaːlɛ.aˈɛs̺t]
Suetonius
Julius Caesar
Rubicon
Northern Italy
civil war
Pompey
Optimates
Menander
Plutarch
point of no return
crossing the Rubicon

Shackerstone
Menander
Greek
comedies
Deipnosophistae
Plutarch
Plutarch
Appian
Appian
Suetonius
Suetonius

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.