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.

“Phalangarii” of Emperor Caracalla

The son of Septimius Severus, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, known by the nickname Caracalla, after the Gallic coat he willingly wore, was greatly fascinated by the figure of king Alexander III of Macedon. His fascination was…Więcej

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…Więcej

Cup made of fluorite

Pliny the Elder left a message that the former consul Titus Petronius 1 Titus Petronius and Gaius Petronius are probably the same person. had a cup made of fluorite, an extremely valuable mineral for which…Więcej

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…Więcej

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.…Więcej

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…Więcej

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…Więcej

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…Więcej

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…Więcej

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,…Więcej

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