Why do we say "The die is cast"?

Well-Known Expressions

The die is cast

Meaning:

The decision is made, it's too late to change, you've past the point of no return.

Background:

"Crossing the Rubicon" has a similar meaning to "the die is cast," and both originate from the same pivotal point in history.

The Rubicon, a river in the north of Italy, marked the boundary between the Roman province of Cisalpine Gaul (meaning "Gaul on this side of the Alps") to the north and the Italian Republic to the south. In the years leading up to 50 BC, Julius Caesar was governor of Cisalpine Gaul (northern Italy), Illyricum (a large chunk of southeastern Europe) and Transalpine Gaul (southern France) and had at his command four legions which he had used to conquer much of the area.

In 50 BC. his term as governor came to an end, and the Senate in Rome (at the time led by Pompey) ordered him to disband his army and return to the capital. He was expressly ordered not to bring his army across the Rubicon. But soon after, in 49 BC, believing he would be prosecuted on his return to Rome, Caesar crossed the Rubicon at the head of one his legions and thus effectively declared war on the Roman Senate.

According to the Greek historian Plutarch (c 46-120 AD) in his Life of Caesar, and in the writings of Suetonius, at the point that Caesar crossed the Rubicon, he uttered the words iacta alea est (or alea iacta est) which translates as "the die is cast" (die being the singular of dice).

Hearing that Caesar and his troops were heading for Rome, Pompey fled the capital with his troops, which vastly outnumbered Caesar's single legion but were inexperienced. Caesar followed and, after a series of battles, defeated Pompey decisively in 48 BC. On his return to Rome, Caesar took charge with Mark Anthony as his second in command, and stayed in power until his assassination in 44 BC.

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