Curiosities of ancient Rome (Ancient stories)

According to ancient sources, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, after taking full power at the end of 82 BCE, began extremely bloody proscriptions against the opposition and his enemies, which claimed nearly 3,000 people. Their property was confiscated and handed over to Sulla’s supporters. According to prevailing rumours, Sulla ordered the killed victims to cut off their heads and set them up as trophies in the atrium of his house.

According to ancient sources, the conquest of Veii by Rome in 396 BCE was an important event for the Roman community. Veii was located only 16 km north of the “Eternal City” and posed a real threat in the region.

A hill on which, according to tradition Romulus founded in 753 BCE Rome was a Palatine (Mons Palatinus). Livius derives its name from the Arcadian city of Pallanteum, from which Euander came – the first ruler of this area, who also established the Greek cult of Heracles in Italy. Why exactly the Palatine?

In the years 215-216, Emperor Caracalla travelled through the Balkans, Turkey, and Syria to Egypt and Alexandria. The very expedition of Caracalla to the east was primarily of propaganda and sentimental nature, due to the adoration of the figure of Alexander the Great. It is also possible that the ruler’s entourage was making preparations for the planned Party expedition in the coming years.

Tacitus tells us that in 21 CE, during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, the poet Clutorius Priscus was accused in the senate. He was accused of having composed a mourning song (carmen) during the illness of the emperor’s son, Drusus the Younger, in which he mourned the expected death of the man.

Emperor Caligula (ruled CE 37-41) made history primarily as an orgy lover. However, he had other interests as well, such as bathing in piles of gold coins – as Suetonius told us.

Emperor Domitian, despite his initially peaceful rule, became very suspicious over time. A guard almost always accompanied him. He covered the walls of his palace with shiny stone (the so-called fengit) so that he could see what was happening behind his back thanks to the gloss.

According to the message of Plutarch, Pyrrhus, during his return with his army from Sicily to Italy, had to deal with the Mamertine troops, which attacked him fiercely. It is said that Pyrrhus, as was his habit, actively participated in the fighting. Unfortunately, however, he received a blow to the head and had to withdraw from the battlefield. Then one of the mighty Mamertine warriors began to mock the king of Epirus, thus provoking him to a duel.

Emperor Elagabalus made exceptional jokes to his friends. He locked drunk people in one room with lions, leopards or bears, from which he previously removed fangs and claws (the so-called exarmati).