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The world of ancient Romans abounded in a number of amazing curiosities and information. The source of knowledge about the life of the Romans are mainly works left to us by ancient writers or discoveries. The Romans left behind a lot of strange information and facts that are sometimes hard to believe.
In ancient Rome, one of the most intriguing customs was fate, i.e. the concept of fate, which was closely related to divine will. It was believed that the goddesses of fate, known as the Trinity of Fatum – Nona, Decima and Morta – had control over each person’s life.
Computer reconstruction of the famous couple from the Roman fresco entitled “The Baker and His Wife”.
Gaius Asinius Pollio (ca. 76 BCE – ca. 4 CE) was a Roman military officer, politician, supporter of Julius Caesar, and writer. Pollio’s greatest achievement was founding the first public library in Rome – the Atrium Libertatis (“Temple of Liberty”) in the Forum Romanum. Thanks to this building, works of Greek and Latin literature became more accessible. Pollio combined the library with an art gallery, making it a place with a multi-faceted cultural character. His actions initiated the tradition of creating public libraries in the empire.
Crepitus is an interesting character in Roman mythology, whose domain was supposed to be “farts” and toilets. Its authenticity is questionable because the only mentions of it are in Christian texts, which may have been an attempt to ridicule pagan beliefs. The lack of direct evidence in Roman sources suggests that he may have been a satirical creation rather than an actually worshipped deity.
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 the ancient world that he obtained in conversation or read in books. The work contains knowledge about grammar, geometry, philosophy, history and many other subjects, as well as anecdotes about famous people.
Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus (ca. 228 – 160 BCE), an outstanding Roman commander and consul, made history thanks to his victory over Macedon at the Battle of Pydna in 168 BCE. He ended the Third Macedonian War and suppressed the power of Macedonia once and for all. His achievements were so important that he received the nickname Macedonicus, becoming a permanent part of the history of the empire.
Suicide of Cato the Younger (95 – 46 BCE), a staunch opponent of Julius Caesar and a representative of the optimate party (Roman aristocracy), was an attempt to maintain honor in the face of defeat in the war with Caesar. In 46 BCE, after the defeat of Pompey’s troops and Republican senators in the civil war against Julius Caesar, Cato retreated to the city of Utica (in present-day Tunisia) in North Africa. Realizing that Caesar was closing in and not wanting to surrender or ask for mercy, he decided to commit suicide as an act of defiance of tyranny.
In ancient Rome, bird’s nest hairstyles were especially popular during the reign of the Flavian dynasty (69-96 CE) and the late empire. Roman women, especially those from the aristocracy, experimented with their hair, creating impressive structures with numerous weaves and curls.
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 female beauty. It is a poetic facial care instruction. Interestingly, this text can be considered one of the first cosmetology magazines in literature.
Nowadays, street names and house numbers are used to identify a place of residence. It is a simple and effective system, but the ancient Romans did not use it. In small towns, finding a given house by a stranger might not have been a big challenge. Such a person was certainly helped by local residents and guided him accordingly.
