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The world of the ancient Romans was rich in extraordinary, and sometimes even surprising, facts. We draw our knowledge of Roman daily life, customs, and mentality primarily from works left by ancient writers and historians. It is thanks to them that we discover information that is astonishing today – sometimes even hard to believe. Below are some interesting facts that reveal a lesser-known and less obvious side of the Roman world.
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Roman tombstone of Marcus Valerius Celerinus, Roman soldier of the Legio X Gemina Pia Fidelis. The tombstone was commissioned by his wife, Marcia Procula. Celerinus was originally from southern Spain, however a tombstone was discovered in Cologne, Germany, suggesting that he settled there after his retirement. Currently, the object is located in the Romisch-Germanisches Museum.
Emperor Domitian, despite his initially peaceful rule, became very suspicious over time. A guard almost always accompanied him. He covered the walls of his palace with shiny stone (the so-called fengit) so that he could see what was happening behind his back thanks to the gloss.
Roman coin was minted in honour of Octavian Augustus’ victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra in the battle of Actium in 31 BCE. Octavian and his friend and commander Marcus Agrippa are depicted on the obverse. On the reverse, there is a crocodile pinned to a palm branch, which symbolizes the joining of Egypt with Rome.
Already ancient s had different opinions about Emperor Nero; some even gave some “positive” feedback. When asked by the flatterers, the philosopher Apollonius of Tyana replied, “I think of him better than you, for you think he should sing and mine should be silent”1.
Holy water is associated with the Christian faith. It is used in baptisms, blessing and expelling evil. Few, however, realize that the holy springs occurred in other religions, including the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Roman wall fresco depicting Silenus, the god of nature, watching Amor and Pan fighting each other. The struggle itself is interpreted as a rivalry between love and desire. The object adorned the walls of the Meleager House in Pompeii. Currently, the artefact is in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Fresco is dated to the 1st century CE.
In ancient Rome, students learned the multiplication table by repeating after the teacher the words: bis bina quattuor – decantare, which means “two times two, four – speak”.
Roman mosaic showing a man who was probably the guardian of a lion. The mosaic adorned a Roman villa in Nennig, in southwest Germany.
Ancient Romans were often interested in anomalies in nature. Therefore, Octavian Augustus (63 BCE – 14 CE) received an armless person from India – a boy 60 cm tall. Such persons were held for entertainment (they were also shown in public).
They say you need three things to fight a war: money, money, and more money. Regardless of whether or not we accept this sentence as true, money undoubtedly helps in war. Of course, it was no different in ancient times. In ancient Rome, troops were paid primarily with silver denarii, sometimes, in exceptional circumstances, and also with gold coins, i.e. aureus.
