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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.
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.
Marcus Licinius Crassus (114-53 BCE) was killed shortly after the battle of Carrhae (53 BCE) by the Parthians who, according to Roman tradition, poured liquid gold into his throat. Mocking the rich man, he was asked how he liked it. Crassus’s head was then beheaded and sent to the Great Parthian King – Orodes II – to Seleucia on the Tigris.
Galba (3 BCE – 69 CE) became famous as one of the “four emperors of 69 CE” who assumed power in Rome after his death Nero. For the first half of Nero’s reign, he retired until 61 CE. Later, the ruler of Rome commissioned him to lead the province of Hispania Tarraconensis, where he “governed the provinces in a variable and capricious manner,” as Suetonius told us. However, what is worth emphasizing, he was extremely strict in his rule.
In the work Factorum et dictorum memorabilium libri novem by Valerius Maximus, we can see the characters and behaviours that the author distinguished in the context of decency and dignified life.
Gaius Julius Caesar was a famous lover and seducer of Roman women of high society. One of the Roman women he seduced was the mother of Marcus Brutus – Servilla.
As per the ancient sources, Emperor Octavian Augustus one day noticed a member of equites who was eating during the games. He was to say: “If I want to dine, I go home”. The latter was to answer him in the following way:
Pompey the Great was famous for his courage and bravery. In 58 BCE he assumed the position of praefectus annonae, who oversaw grain deliveries to Rome. It was a unique position that the edile normally covered under its authority during the republic. However, in the event of major food crises, a special officer was appointed for 5 years.
One day a man very similar to Octavian Augustus was to come to Rome. He ordered him to be brought and asked: “Was your mother ever in Rome?”. The young man was supposed to answer in the following way.
Emperor Titus (39-81 CE) ensured that none of his petitioners was left without an answer. Once, when he was accused of promising more than he could fulfil, he replied: “It is not right for anyone to go away sorrowful from an interview with his emperor”.
