The Rubicon: Both an actual event and also an often used metaphor

Caesar’s route south from Ravenna in 49 BC (drawn by Cristiano64 via Wikimedia)

Odds are you have heard the phrase “Crossing the Rubicon “ in one context or another. The historical facts point us to a literal place and event, however, “Crossing the Rubicon “ has also, along with its history, a metaphorical meaning. It represents a decisive and irreversible decision; once made it is final and the consequences must be faced.

In its historical context we are referring to Julius Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon River in 49 BC, which marked the start of a civil war and Caesar’s ultimate rise to power.

Though for Julius Caesar, this action was definitely a literal and metaphorically significant crossing, as to the Roman Republic, its transition from Republic to Empire was not a sudden event, but a gradual process spanning decades.