Curiosities of ancient Rome (Ancient stories)
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Caesar, queen of Nicomedes
Julius Caesar, according to Suetonius, throughout his life had to deal with unsavoury jokes about himself. These comments were associated with an infamous adventure, which more than twenty-year-old Caesar had at the court of King Nicomedes in Bithynia. In 80 ... Read more
Geese were holy in Rome
Interestingly, this custom was derived from the story that took place in 390 BCE. At that time, Capitol relied on the invasion of Gauls from the Padus valley. The Gauls decided to conquer the hill at night. For this purpose, ... Read more
Augustus not so weak
The popular opinion is that young Gaius Octavian, the future Roman Emperor, was cowardly and weak. However, we know the message about how Octavian enters the area of a military camp to talk to rebel soldiers. In the camp, he ... Read more
Faithful wife of Brutus
Porcia, the daughter of Cato the Younger, has gone to history as the second wife of Caesar’s murderer, Marcus Junius Brutus. He trusted his young wife so much that he even betrayed her the plans to kill the dictator. According ... Read more
Duel of playwrights
In 46 BCE, during his triumph, Julius Caesar announced a competition for playwrights for writing. The two most important participants were Decimus Laberius and Publilius Syrus. Ultimately, Syrus won the grand prize – a million sesterces. Noteworthy, however, is the ... Read more
How did Cleopatra get Caesar?
After the victory over Pompey, in 48 BCE at Pharsalus and his death, Caesar became the sole master of the Roman world. Cleopatra VII, expelled from Alexandria by her brother Ptolemy XIII, was looking for every way to regain power ... Read more
Caligula joker
Roman emperor Caligula was known for his jokes. Once, during offering the victims, he was given a hammer to stun the animal. The priest standing next to him waited for this moment, then to cut the animal’s throat. Caligula, however, ... Read more
Piso’s justice
Seneca the Younger mentions an interesting story of Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, the Roman governor of Syria and Roman politics (44 BCE – 20 CE) who was to get angry when he heard that only one of the two soldiers returned ... Read more
Herennius Etruscus and father
Herennius Etruscus was the elder son of Emperor Decius and ruled from May to June 251 CE. From the beginning of the reign of Herennius, the gothic tribes (under the so-called Kniva) crossed the Danube and looted Moesia and Dacia. ... Read more
Alexander the Great was worshiped
Alexander the Great and his conquests have always passed into the memory of posterity. Ancient Romans were a people who very often referred to the feats of the Macedonian leader – especially the generals. It is worth mentioning here about ... Read more
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