I did not learn of my mistake until I was an adult. All that is missing is the chance taking implied by the dice metaphor. When a forging die is finally cast, there is no way to change the shape of the objects to be forged. It is amusing that the meaning of both interpretations is quite similar.Ĭaesar was stating that he was making an irrevocable decision. When I was about ten years old, I was familiar with various forging processes & thought the phrase referred to a forging die, not realizing that metallurgy was not that advanced at the time of Julius Caesar. He was also indicating that he was making an irrevocable decision. He meant that he was taking a bold chance by crossing the Rubicon River with his army, indicating that he intended to overthrow the emperor.
Caesar was referring to gaming dice when he said 'The die is cast'.
