Curiosities of ancient Rome (Ancient stories)
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Pliny the Elder on hippos
As we read in the message Pliny the Elder, the Egyptian Nile River gives birth to large creatures, among whom he lists hippos. According to the Roman researcher, the skin of the animal is very durable and is used to ... Read more
Artabanus’ letter to Tiberius
The reign of Tiberius (14-37 CE) was for ordinary people in the provinces a period of peace and good state management, but for the spheres of the Roman aristocracy, a time of increasing tyranny and terror. This was largely due ... Read more
Secret “weapon” against Emperor Trajan
Cassius Dio has left a message that King Abgarus, who ruled in the small country of Osroene on the Euphrates, tried at all costs to remain neutral during the invasion of Trajan’s Roman troops on the Parthia. In order not ... Read more
Obese Emperor Vitellius
Emperor Vitellius was perhaps one of Rome’s most obese rulers. He feasted all the time. He ate at least three times a day. He often vomited so that he could eat more and more. The variety and quantity of the ... Read more
Caligula’s war with Poseidon
Emperor Caligula made many bizarre decisions during his reign. Certainly one of them was declaring war on the god of the sea, Poseidon. He ordered his soldiers to go to the beach and stab the sea and waves with their ... Read more
Incorruptible and brave Gaius Fabricius
Gaius Fabricius, in Roman transmissions, was an example of an incorruptible politician and an extremely honourable and brave man. This is evidenced by the history of the war with Pyrrhus (282-272 BCE). In 280 BCE, after the Romans lost the ... Read more
Mourning woman and Trajan
Trajan was one of the most respected Roman emperors. Over the centuries, it was believed that the conqueror-emperor showed extraordinary rule of law, and he made decisions based on the opinion of his closest council of advisers. Until our times, ... Read more
Octavian Augustus not so good
Although Emperor Octavian Augustus appears to be a descendant of the first and one of the greatest emperors of the Roman Empire, it should be remembered that he gained power by force. Not wanting to share the fate of Julius ... Read more
Cleopatra VII ready to die
According to Plutarch, the queen of Cleopatra VII after the defeat at Actium in 31 BCE for several months she picked up strong poisons, the effectiveness and degree of pain of which she checked on prisoners. To her surprise, she ... Read more
Nosy senator’s wife
Plutarch mentions a story about a senator whose wife questioned him about what the Senate was debating on. To silence his curious wife, the senator replied that the congregation was considering whether the appearance of a lark in the sky ... Read more
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