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Articles

The Roman state existed in practice for XIII centuries, being the power which was impacting the history. Therefore, I decided that I would tell the history of ancient Rome in the articles below, which will not necessarily cover only the Eternal City.

I encourage you to send articles and point out any corrections or inaccuracies.

Senatus consultum Silanianum – resolution authorizing torture of slaves whose owner was murdered

During the existence of the Republic, the Senate had mainly an advisory function. However, after Octavian Augustus took power in 27 BCE, the role of the Senate changed. Since then, this institution had a legislative function, and the adopted resolutions had the force of binding law and often rewarding the upper classes. The resolution of the Senate was called Senatus consultum. In 10 CE, one of the most brutal resolutions was adopted – Senatus consultum Silanianum.

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Manuel Domínguez Sánchez, Suicide of Seneca

Embankment on Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall, Vallum Hadriani, is perhaps the most famous of the Roman limes. It was built in the years 121-129 CE and stretched 117 kilometres in the present-day village of Bowness on the Solway Firth to the Segedunum fortress (today it is Wallsend on Tyne).

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Hadrian's Wall

One more secret of Petra

One of the most interesting – and possibly the most beautiful – cities of the Roman Empire was the former capital of the Nabataean Kingdom: Rakmu, better known as Petra. Incorporated into the empire during the reign of Trajan in 106 CE, it became the capital of the Arabia province and began to develop dynamically.

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Tomb in Petra

Conspiracy of barbarians – barbarian invasion of Britain in 4th century CE

According to the Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus, an event called barbarica conspiratio (“barbarian conspiracy”) took place in the second half of the 4th century CE, which involved a simultaneous attack on Roman Britain by various barbarian tribes. It is not clear whether this was an organized action; however, it certainly severely damaged the province, which was abandoned by the Romans half a century later.

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Conspiracy of barbarians

Edict of Milan

Edict of Milan (Edictum Mediolanense) it was an edict jointly issued by the Emperor of the Western Roman Empire Constantine the Great and emperor of the eastern part of Licinius in 313 CE in Milan. It introduced the freedom of confession of faith in the Roman Empire.

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Constantine the Great

Reflections on Bacchus

It is commonly assume that Bacchus was counterpart of Dionysos. But what it actually means? It’s highly not obvious and doesn’t concern only the Dionysos nor even Rome itself, but the essential methodological problems of religious science and history of religion. Were gods identify with each other just like that?

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Bacchus

Serial killer of ancient Rome

Poison was a weapon commonly used in the intrigues of ancient Rome, it was a way more discreet and difficult to detect the killer efficiently than murders with melee weapons. Emperors used it to eliminate their opponents or pretenders to power, and people who knew each other and had the appropriate skills to use them were especially valued and employed by them. This is also what happened with a woman who travelled from the wild forests of Gaul to the marble palaces of Rome and is widely regarded as a professional poisoner and first serial killer in ancient Rome.

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Joseph Noël Sylvestre, Locusta Testing Poison on a Slave

HBO series: “Romulus” – review and analysis from perspective of ancient sources

Recently, on the HBO GO platform, you can watch the latest Italian production – the historical series “Romulus”, which takes the viewer to the middle of the 8th century BCE and tells the story of the creation of the most powerful city of antiquity – Rome. I do not hide that the first announcements and information about the title from Sky Italia did not convince me too much. How do I finally receive the series, consisting of 10 episodes? How does the plot relate to the accounts of ancient writers?

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Romulus and Gnaeus

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