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The world of ancient Romans abounded in a number of amazing curiosities and information. The source of knowledge about the life of the Romans are mainly works left to us by ancient writers or discoveries. The Romans left behind a lot of strange information and facts that are sometimes hard to believe.
Without a doubt, the most notorious Roman poisoner was Lucusta, who operated at Nero’s court. However, she was not the only woman to engage in this dark occupation (or at least to be suspected of it). The eastern part of the empire could “boast” of Martina.
During the First Punic War (264-241 BCE), the Roman commander Marcus Atilius Regulus was said to have fought – according to Pliny the Elder – an extraordinary battle not with the Carthaginians, but with a giant serpent (this is suggested as the first mention of a dragon in Roman culture) on the Bagradas River in Africa (present-day Tunisia).
One of the most famous athletes of the ancient world was Milo of Croton. He was a Greek, and his fame even reached Rome and survived for centuries. Milo was a legendary wrestler who lived in the 6th century BCE and was a six-time winner of the Olympic Games and a six-time winner of the Delphi Games. His strength and skills were so impressive that his figure became an inspiration in Roman culture, and his exploits were even written about in Rome.
Certainly many of us celebrate the last day of the year, called New Year’s Eve. But how many people know exactly where this name actually comes from?
It is true that every new monarch ascending the throne must take into account the danger of a potential attack on his life. As history shows, there has never been a shortage of people who were able to raise a hand against their own ruler. These cruel practices were already known in antiquity, and Roman emperors often had to face attacks on their own lives. Octavian Augustus himself, generally considered a rather good ruler, did not avoid conspiracies and attacks aimed at taking his life or power.
Ad Gallinas Albas: Few people know this name today, but two thousand years ago things were different. Known under it was a town nowadays called Prima Porta – near Rome, on Via Flaminia.
The circumstances of the death of the third emperor of Rome are seemingly clear. Caligula was assassinated on January 24, 41, after reigning for less than four years. The very fact of the murder of the emperor is beyond doubt, although some details remain obscure.
Octavian Augustus used some characteristic phrases: instead of “stupid”, he used “dumb”; to describe the speed of acting, he used the phrase “faster than asparagus cooks”; instead of saying “crazy”, he used “mad in the head”.
Emperor Domitian was extremely suspicious towards the end of his reign and sensed conspiracies everywhere. He was also reluctant to refer to senators. According to Cassius Dio, once the ruler invited a group of influential senators to dinner at his residence. The drawing room where the feast was to take place was painted entirely black.
Emperor Commodus never was fond of the senatorial order, leading to the conviction of many senators. At certain games, he tried to prove his marksmanship.
