Curiosities of ancient Rome (Ancient stories)
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Envoy from Laodicea
Once upon a time, an envoy from Laodicea came to Rome. He was to ask Julius Caesar himself for freedom for his country. Before that, however, he met Cicero. He was supposed to say to him: “By the way, put ... Read more
Livia took care of herself
The wife of Octavian Augustus – Livia – took great care of her body, caring for both its beauty and health. She reportedly had a large number of hairdressers, masseuses, dressmakers, and jewellers among her servants. She also had her ... Read more
Well I’ve played my part
Emperor Octavian Augustus (63 BCE – 14 CE), while lying on his death bed, asked his friends if they thought he had played his the drama of life. Finally, he was to say in Greek: “Well I’ve played my part”. ... Read more
Caesar’s drinking was moderate
Suetonius tells us that the famous Roman commander Julius Caesar was known for his moderation in drinking wine. Hence the famous words of Marcus Cato the Younger: “Caesar was the only man who undertook to overthrow the state when sober”.
Good Augustus
One day at Octavian Augustus a citizen of Furnius appeared, who wanted to ask the emperor’s forgiveness for his father, who during the civil war was a supporter of Mark Antony. Octavian agreed and spared the man. Then Furnius was ... Read more
Hadrian in literal clash
Emperor Hadrian (76-138 CE) often competed with teachers and philosophers in prose or poetry. On one occasion he rebuked a word used by the Gallic thinker, Favorinus, who had yielded to the emperor. The friends laughed at the speaker because ... Read more
Funny Augustus
It is said that one day the emperor Octavian Augustus ordered a spoiled young man – a man named Herenius – to leave the Roman camp. The latter, wanting to appease him, exclaimed: “How can I come back home? What ... Read more
Liar merchant
According to the Historia Augusta, during the reign of Gallienus (253-268 CE), a Roman merchant who traded in fake jewellery was captured and led to the arena, where he had faced a bloodthirsty lion. As the gate opened, a chicken ... Read more
Attempts to reorganize front in Dacia and trick
At the end of the 80s of the 1st century CE, the Romans fought the Dacian kingdom, which, led by Diurpaneus, inflicted two defeats on the Roman legions. The fear of losing Rome’s prestige caused Domitian to withdraw from further ... Read more
Two ministers of Emperor Claudius
Two ministers of Emperor Claudius (ruled 41-54 CE), his freedmen Pallas and Narcissus, made huge fortunes from their offices. Claudius was known for his trust in his freedmen, who often decided the country’s politics and palace intrigues. When Claudius once ... Read more
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