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.

Forgiving Octavian Augustus

It is said that one time Octavian Augustus removed an official from his position. He asked him for a financial donation, justifying it as follows: “My point is that it would seem that I voluntarily…Więcej

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…Więcej

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…Więcej

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…Więcej

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…Więcej

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…Więcej

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,…Więcej

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…Więcej

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…Więcej

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…Więcej

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