Curiosities of ancient Rome (Historical sources)

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Historical sources are curiosities about the materials on which knowledge of ancient Rome is based. This category includes lesser-known facts and interesting information related to the works of ancient authors, inscriptions, documents, coins, and other sources that allow us to reconstruct the history of the Roman Empire.

Plutarch’s mention of Domitian

“Lives” are one of the most fascinating works of antiquity. Its author, Plutarch of Chaeronea (ca. 46 – ca. 120 CE), compiles the profiles of famous Greeks and Romans. When describing these characters, he focuses…Więcej

Noctes Atticae – treasure trove of knowledge from ancient world

Noctes Atticae (“Attic Nights”) is a work written by Aulus Gellius (c. 125 – after 180 CE) in the 2nd century CE during his stay in Athens. It is a list of fascinating information about…Więcej

Medicamina Faciei Femineae – cosmetics in ancient times according to Ovid

Medicamina Faciei Femineae, or “Cosmetics for the Female Face”, is a fascinating treatise written by Ovid, one of the most famous poets of ancient Rome. This is a work that reflects the ancient approach to…Więcej

“From the Founding of the City” – great work of Titus Livius

Titus Livius (59 BCE – 17 CE), one of the most important historians of ancient Rome, left behind a monumental work – “Ab Urbe Condita” (i.e. “From the Founding of the City”, also called “History…Więcej

History of Rome according to Livy

I am reading “From the Founding of the City” by the ancient historian Titus Livius, and although I am only slowly absorbing the first books of his work, today I would like to share some…Więcej

Fidus Achates, Fidus Cicero

The best friend of Marcus Tullius Cicero was Titus Pomponius, called Atticus. Even though they were often apart, Cicero and Atticus exchanged letters over the years that reveal a friendship of rare devotion and warm…Więcej

“The Twelve Caesars” of Suetonius

Suetonius (c. 69 – after 122 CE), a Roman historian is known in history as the author of the biography of the Roman emperors from Augustus to Domitian, including Julius Caesar – the first of…Więcej

Comparison of Caesar to Alexander the Great

Appian of Alexandria (c. 95 – c. 180 CE), a Greek historian, devoted a large fragment of his “Roman history” work comparing Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. In the ancient world, many generals wanted…Więcej

“Natural History” – ancient encyclopedia

The great work of the Roman writer and scientist Pliny the Elder was “Naturalis Historia” – an ancient encyclopedia. Interestingly, it was the writer’s only surviving work. Books of “Natural History”: Book I is an…Więcej

“Augustan History” – literary forgery?

The “Augustan History” (Historia Augusta) is a late Roman collection of biographies, written in Latin, of the Roman Emperors from begining of rule of Hadrian (117 CE) to death of Numerian (284 CE). This is…Więcej

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