Curiosities of ancient Rome (Ancient stories)

Emperor Caligula was the first emperor who compared himself to god and called himself like that. What’s more, he allowed himself bizarre decisions, including appointing his horse a senator. About Caligula’s favourite horse (Incitatus, meaning “swift” or “at full gallop”) writes Suetonius in “About the Life of the Caesars”. According to the Roman writer, the animal had 18 servants who cared for it.

Gladiators were not only slaves, prisoners of war or criminals; they could also be free citizens of Rome, eager to gain wealth or the opportunity to win fame as a good warrior. However, there were cases when, paradoxically, the profession of a gladiator, among whom most were slaves, was one of the options not to become a slave.

The time of the Antonine dynasty (including Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius) is a period of splendor of the Roman Empire, which was prosperous, society felt safe, and legions Roman dominated at all borders of the Empire. The Romans and peoples living within the Empire appreciated the times they lived in.

After the Social War that devastated Italy, in 88 BCE there was another major political crisis in the Republic between the two largest players of the world at the time, L. Cornelius Sulla and G. Marius. As a result of Rome’s capture by Sulla’s army, a completely lonely Marius had to flee the capital in the company of only a few of his slaves.

Legion X Equites was the best and most respected unit by Julius Caesar. It served under his leadership in numerous campaigns, occupying the honourable right wing. After the subordination of Gaul, in 48 BCE a civil war broke out, in which Caesar could once again count on his faithful troops of the 10th Legion. However, the lack of awards promised by Caesar began to cause bitterness among the soldiers.

Ancient Romans were famous for their extremely criminal and legionary Roman legionaries. On the battlefields they were confirming their strength and discipline. However, apart from strength, the Romans had one more argument – they were able to impose their will.

Geta and Caracalla were sons of emperor Septimius Severus. Both, according to the will of the dying father, were to share power in the Empire, without a clear division of powers and territory. This fact alone hindered cooperation between them. However, the deeper cause of the conflict that was about to break out between the brothers was the sincere hatred they had had since early childhood. They were not even prevented by the consent forced by their father’s grave, to which their mother Julia Domna urged her co-emperors.

In fact, unlike duplicated myths, gladiators did not always fight until they died, and gladiator schools rarely allowed death and life duels because of the very high costs of training such a warrior. Many gladiators managed to win freedom by winning many fights, then the gladiators could receive rudis (received after at least three years of combat), a wooden sword that symbolized the end of life as a gladiator and starting a new one as a free man. However, as it turns out, not everyone chose this freedom and some of them stood in the arena again.

Perseus of the Antigonid dynasty was the Macedonian king who was defeated in the Third Macedonian War (172-168 BCE) and lost power. After defeat, he fled to the island of Samothrace, where he took refuge in a temple. However, the victorious Roman commander – consul Lucius Emilius Paulus Macedonian – captured him and led in triumph.

Roman emperor Commodus, son of the “emperor-philosopher” Marcus Aurelius he was known for his love of blood and games, especially gladiatorial fights. His participation in the clashes – during the reign (180-192 CE) – was very badly received and treated as part of the scandal.