Alea jacta est

• Alea Jacta Est meaning The die is cast or ‘The Dice has been thrown’ and in French, ‘Les jeux sont faits’.

Origin of the Phrase

• Recorded by Suetonius:
  • Julius Caesar quoted the expression from the Greek Playwright Menander (c.342-290 BCE).
  • On the 10th January 49 BCE, Julius Caesar made this comment prior to Crossing the Rubicon with his Legio XIII Gemina.
  • He then marched on Rome which started the Great Roman Civil War (49-45 BCE).

Back to Famous Latin Quotes