Curiosities of ancient Rome (Ancient stories)

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Ancient stories are curiosities revealing lesser-known, surprising, or unusual episodes from the world of ancient Rome and antiquity. This category includes short stories about events, people, and situations that don’t always make it into classical works, yet allow for a better understanding of the realities and mentality of the era.

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…Więcej

Cruel punishment invented by Augustus

Augustus while tring to cut the fights in the arena by replacing it with sports competitions, he was also believed to invent an exceptionally cruel spectacle. In order to exemplify the punishment of one of…Więcej

Lucky Augustus

When Augustus married Livia Drusilla, she was in advanced pregnancy. Her youngest son was born three months after the wedding with the ruler of Rome. The malicious people in the Eternal City used to say…Więcej

“I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble”

According to Suetonius, Augustus, when assessing his rule, said: “I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble”. The question is, had Rome really undergone reconstruction to such an extent…Więcej

Man with donkey

Before the battle of Actium, young Gaius Octavius, adopted son of Julius Caesar, met on the road man with a donkey. Asking a man for a name, he heard that this is called Eutyches, which…Więcej

Crowing rooster is bad sign

Crowing of rooster was considered as a bad sign. Petronius in “Trimalchio’s feast” describes the scene, as Trimalchio, frightened by the voice of a crowing rooster, ordered to pour wine under the table and sprinkle…Więcej

Antony’s mistake

The Battle of Naulochos in the year 36 BCE finally ended the problem with the pirates of Sextus Pompey, guaranteeing for a long time peace at sea, and thus supplies to Rome. However, Mark Antony…Więcej

Titus Pullo and Pompey’s army

During the civil war between Caesar and Pompey there was a surprising incident. In the year 48 BCE legio XXIV Victrix Rapax commanded by legate Gaius Antonius (brother of Mark Antony) was cut off on…Więcej

Caesar and pirates

In 75 BCE, while travelling to Rhodes to study with Apolloninos Molon, the 25-year-old Gaius Julius Caesar was kidnapped by Cilician pirates (praedo). The Cilicians, inhabiting what is now southeastern Turkey, according to Plutarch, were…Więcej

Hero Marcus Atilius Regulus

Marcus Atilius Regulus is one of the Roman heroes who embodied the most important virtues: bravery (virtus) and duty towards the state (officium). During First Punic War (264-241 BCE), he fought against Carthaginian army and…Więcej

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