Curiosities of ancient Rome (Other)
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Yew – tree of death and longevity
The common yew (Taxus baccata) is an evergreen conifer native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Today, it is a popular ornamental plant, but in ancient times its meaning was quite different. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Germanic peoples, Celts, and ... Read more
Monument to Emperor Antoninus Pius near Wrocław
In the town of Magnice (commune of Kobierzyce) in the suburbs of Wroclaw, a new street has been named after a Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. A monument to his adoptive father and predecessor on the imperial throne, Antoninus Pius, has ... Read more
Donkeys – inconspicuous co-creators of empires
When we think of the animals that have most influenced the fate of humanity, we likely first place horses – after all, it was on their backs that armies, rulers, and ultimately, multitudes of ordinary people traveled. Perhaps we would ... Read more
Roman graffiti – voice of ordinary people from centuries ago
On the walls of ancient Pompeii, Herculaneum, and other Roman cities, archaeologists have discovered thousands of inscriptions that offer a glimpse into the daily lives of the empire’s inhabitants. These are the so-called graffiti – short notes, political slogans, love ... Read more
From swamp fever to green fairy
In one of Rome’s most powerful periods, when its borders stretched from Britain to Syria, when Julius Caesar spoke in the Forum, and when legions marched along roads leading to the Euphrates, there was a disease that no conqueror could ... Read more
Ancient statues off coast of Egypt
Several large sculptures were among a treasure trove of artifacts recovered by divers from the waters near Alexandria, Egypt. A collection of ancient statues, coins, pottery, and fragments of a merchant ship have been recovered from the waters off the ... Read more
Bloodletting as form of treatment in ancient times
Aulus Cornelius Celsus was a Roman scholar and encyclopedist of the 1st century CE, best known as the author of De Medicina, one of the most important sources of medical knowledge in antiquity. In his work, he described various methods ... Read more
Rubbed amber attracts light objects
Pliny the Elder in his “Natural History” (Book XXXVII, Chapter 12) described the electrostatic properties of amber. He noticed that when rubbed with the fingers, under the influence of heat, it attracted light objects such as chaff, dry leaves and ... Read more
“Human lanterns” – dark practice of ancient Rome
Brutality and cruelty are often associated with ancient Rome, and one of the most horrific customs was the practice of using convicts as “human lanterns”. What did this cruel way of punishment look like and what does it say about ... Read more
“Annales” of Ennius – national epic of Romans
“Annales” by Quintus Ennius (239 – 169 BCE) is a monumental epic poem that aims to tell the history of Rome from its mythical beginnings to Ennius’ contemporary times. Considered one of the fathers of Roman literature, Ennius revolutionized epic ... Read more
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