49 BC

It seemed a strange place to draw a line in the sand, the general thought to himself, given that it's a river. And not much of a river — more of a stream. His army stood behind him as he pondered the words of the tribunes who had forbidden him to lead the army back home. Suddenly he heard the sound of a reed. Turning, he saw a statue of a satyr playing an instrument, but he could hear the music. Do you hear that? he asked his men. They called out that they did. Then, he said, the die is cast. He led the men across the river.