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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.

Genesis of development of Eastern cults in times of Roman Empire

Starting from the 2nd century CE Imperium Romanum began a process of intense religious changes. Oriental religions, such as Mithraism began to play an increasingly important role in the Roman state. One of the reasons for the development of these cults was the serious crises that the empire experienced in the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. Events such as the civil war of 193-197, or the difficult internal situation during the so-called crisis of the 3rd century, favoured the emergence of religious phenomena, the roots of which dated back to earlier epochs.

7 May 2023

Propaganda of Emperor Septimius Severus during civil war

The civil war of 193-197 was an extremely important event in the history of ancient Rome. After the death of Commodus, several candidates competed for the imperial purple. The ultimate winner of this conflict was to be Septimius Severus. In achieving political and military success, he was undoubtedly helped by a well-thought-out and effective propaganda program.

6 May 2023

“Let him sleep in peace…” or about ancient belief about similarity of sleep to death

Many people visiting the graves of their loved ones have come across tombstones informing that the deceased “slept forever” or “sleeping in the Lord” – few know that these phrases come directly from the world of ancient Romans and Greeks.

22 April 2023

Waterhouse sleep and his half brother death 1874

Pontius Pilate – some interesting facts about most famous prefect of Judea

Probably each of us has heard of Pontius Pilate, the most famous Roman prefect of Judea and one of the most famous in the entire history of ancient Rome. However, outside the NT, few people know that there are other sources about this character.

21 April 2023

Antonio Ciseri, Ecce Homo; oil on canvas, 1871 Pitti Palace, Florence

Zeno and decision of millennium

When delegations from Western Europe arrived in Constantinople in 476, Emperor Zeno was fresh from the civil war that had left him in power for more than a year. The deputies represented two conflicting sides, one demanded the support of Julius Nepos, the overthrown emperor of the west, and the other asked for recognition of Odoacer’s power and granting him the title of patrician. Solomon’s decision of Zeno determined the fate of Europe, so it is worth looking at the geopolitical and dynastic conditions that the emperor had to consider.

21 April 2023

Treasure of the Roman Gardens of Sallust – “The Dying Daughter of Niobe”

In this magnificent statue, which we can admire in the Roman museum in Palazzo Massimo Alle Terme, the sculptor masterfully captured both the drama of the moment and the movement of the dying woman. However, in order to fully appreciate this work, one must remember the context in which it was created. The myth of Nioba and her children was a very popular motif in ancient art.

19 April 2023

Photo of Niobe's dying daughter from the Palazzo Massimo Alle Terme museum in Rome

Policy of Roman Empire towards Manicheans

In the 3rd century CE, a new syncretic religion – Manichaeism – penetrated the areas of the Roman Empire from the Persian State. Its founder was the prophet Mani, and the doctrine itself combined elements of other religions: Gnosticism, Christianity, Mithraism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and Jainism.

18 April 2023

The image of the prophet Mani - the founder of Manichaeism

Sopianae – early Christian cemetery from Roman times in Pécs (Hungary)

Hungary is not a country that in the minds of the average European is associated with the Roman Empire and the monuments of antiquity. However, the entire western part of Hungary, on the right bank of the Danube, was from the reign of Augustus until the 4th – 5th century under Roman rule, in the province of Pannonia.

17 April 2023

Chapel called the Mausoleum in the early Christian cemetery in Pécs

History of Roman border on lower Rhine – lower Germanic limes

Roman border defences on many of its frontiers in the Roman Empire were called limes. Some remains of Roman forts and fortifications have survived to this day. In Germany, since 2005, fragments of the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian limes have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

15 April 2023

Tabula Peutingeriana showing southern Italy

Sikait (Emerald Mountain) – only known emerald mine in the Roman Empire

Emeralds were the most popular gemstones of ancient Rome. All kinds of jewelry were decorated with them, as well as everyday objects, such as safety pins or hairpins.

12 April 2023