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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.
Cassius Dio mentions that Domitian (ruled 81-96 CE) did not shy away from spilling blood among his family as well. On his order, Flavius Clemens was related to him, grandson of Titus Flavius Sabinus (brother of Vespasian, and uncle of Domitian) and the husband of his niece, Flavia Domitilla.
Emperor Claudius was once a judge of a man accused of an unlawful preaching Roman citizen. According to Suetonius, the ruler was to make brilliant decisions.
Breech birth (a child is born with legs and buttocks facing the birth canal) has been considered dangerous since ancient times. Pliny the Elder defines those born in this way as agrippae, meaning “born with difficulty”.
In 46 BCE Julius Caesar defeated the still opposing optimates (including Cato the Younger) under Thapsus. To celebrate the victory in Africa, Caesar’s supporters decided to organize games (ludi), during which mime competitions were to be held.
Cleopatra tried to heal baldness of Julius Caesar. The famous Roman physician Galen (2nd century CE) claimed that Cleopatra recommended a paste of burned mice, rags, horse’s teeth for this condition; bear fat; deer marrow and reed stalks. The ingredients were to be used in equal proportions, mixed with honey and rubbed on the head.
Cato the Younger, a Roman politician from the 1st century BCE, fearing losing the enormous wealth he had with him, amounting to seven thousand silver talents, figured out a way to secure his belongings on a long sea voyage. In ancient times, a boat trip across the sea was always risky, especially in winter or in the open sea. However, due to the speed of the ship compared to land transport and the possibility of taking more belongings, many people decided to take such a step.
Cato the Younger (95-46 BCE) was known as an outstanding politician of ancient Rome in the 1st century BCE. He was the great-grandson of Cato the Elder and imitated his way of being, which was ideal for him. He belonged to the Stoics, living in harmony with integrity and honesty.
Titus Livy reports that reportedly the mother of a Roman who managed to escape from the Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE and return to Rome, she died in the hands of her son. Another mother, hearing about her son’s death, sat in grief in front of the house. But when she saw him alive at her door, she died of joy.
Roman emperor from the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, Maximian, co-ruling with Diocletian, became famous as persecutors of the followers of Christianity. Maximian was once to order the decimation (decimatio) of a legion (the so-called Theban legion, derived from Egypt) composed of Christian soldiers. The commander’s decision was based on the fact that the detachment refused to put down a revolt in Gaul, which was triggered by fellow believers.
The Roman statesman, Cato the Elder insisted that children should be bathed in warm urine, made by adults who have eaten cabbage before. On the other hand, if the child does not feel like falling asleep, put goat fertilizer in the diaper.
