matters calendrical

december 7 is an important date in history for at least two reasons. first of all, japan attacke pearl harbor on december 7, 1941.

second, it is the date on which, in 43 BC, cicero was executed:

On this day in 43 BCE, the greatest Roman orator, Cicero, was executed at Formiae by order of Mark Antony. Cicero had angered Antony by his famous speeches, the Phillipics, that called for a restoration of the Republic. Mark Antony ordered his hands cut off after his death -- the hands that had written the speeches.

feel free to post any thoughts about cicero here today, be they historical, philosophical, philological, or anything else.