Curiosities of ancient Rome (Ancient stories)
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Domitian’s disobedience
Domitian was nearly 18 when his father was proclaimed emperor by the legions in the east, and his brother Titus suppressed the Jewish uprising. For several months before his father came to the capital, the young member of the imperial ... Read more
Cup made of fluorite
Pliny the Elder left a message that the former consul Titus Petronius1 had a cup made of fluorite, an extremely valuable mineral for which he paid 300,000 sestertii. Before committing suicide, he smashed the vessel, not wanting the precious item ... Read more
Examples of Romans’ dissatisfaction with authority
In Roman historiography, there were not many events that could be described as rebellions of the population against the local elite or the emperor, in connection with, for example, problems with food supplies. This does not mean, however, that the ... Read more
Example of Scipio Nasica how not to talk to voter
We are all well aware that an effective politician is one who has very good contact with the voter. However, there are behaviours that can effectively discourage a citizen from voting for a given politician. A great example of this ... Read more
Antiochus IV Epiphanes “crazy”
Polybius in “Histories” describes the figure of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the son of King Antiochus III the Great, who, after the defeat of the Seleucid monarchy in the war with Rome in 188 BCE, had to live in Rome as ... Read more
Vibia Perpetua – Christian martyr
Vibia Perpetua lived at the turn of the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. She came from a wealthy Roman home, and her parents professed various faiths: her father was a pagan, and her mother was a Christian. Vibia went down ... Read more
Nero took care of good physical condition of senators
Nero kept fit the entire senatorial body. In 59 CE in the gardens of his palace, he organized an amazing gymnastic and artistic competition – Ludi Iuvenales – for senators and equites, which shocked the conservatives. Mostly young aristocrats (the ... Read more
Mother of Gracchii
Valerius Maximus, a Roman writer from the 1st century CE, author of a collection of anecdotes in 9 books about famous deeds and sayings Factorum et dictorum memorabilium libri novem mentions one interesting anecdote from his life Cornelia, mother of ... Read more
Squeak of mice – bad omen
Probably in 222 BCE, when Marcus Minucius Rufus assumed the office of Roman dictator, and Gaius Flaminius magister equitum (deputy dictator in political and military functions), a disturbing event occurred. During the appointment of officials, a disturbing screech of mice ... Read more
Gaius Verres – example of corrupt and evil Roman governor
Gaius Verres was an example of a wicked and greedy Roman governor who, while in office (73-71 BCE) in Sicily, committed countless thefts of works of art, tax evasion and speculation on grain prices. Cicero, the famous Roman orator, was ... Read more
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