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.

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,…Więcej

Sulla was especially cruel

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…Więcej

Conquest of Veii in 396 BCE

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…Więcej

Mons Palatinus in legends of Livy

Wzgórzem, na którym wg. tradycji Romulus założył w 753 roku p. n. e. Rzym był Palatyn. Liwiusz wywodzi jego nazwę od arkadyjskiego miasta Pallanteum, z którego pochodził Euander – pierwszy władca tych terenów, który ustanowił…Więcej

Stay of Caracalla in East

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…Więcej

Helvidius Priscus – staunch republican

Helvidius Priscus was a Roman Stoic philosopher and politician who lived in the 1st century CE. Helvidius was known for his love of republican values and his dislike of emperors. Suetonius reports that during the…Więcej

Funeral song of Clutorius Priscus

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…Więcej

Baths in “gold” of Caligula

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. It was kind…Więcej

Domitian and fears about assassination

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…Więcej

Clash of Pyrrhus with Mamertine warrior

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…Więcej

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