Curiosities of ancient Rome

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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.

I encourage you to submit your own suggestions and to report any corrections or inaccuracies.

Could Augustus have had penchant for young girls?

Octavian Augustus (63 BCE – 14 CE) like virtually every famous personage, and even more so the ruler had to reckon with numerous rumours about himself. One of them was allegedly the emperor’s adoration of…Więcej

Roman Weisenau type legionary helmet

Roman Weisenau type legionary helmet, dated to the 1st century CE. The helmet is preserved without the cheeks. There is an engraving on the neck guard with the initials of the name of the soldier…Więcej

Ancient handbag

Ancient handbag made of copper alloy in which coins were carried. The object is dated to the 2nd century CE. To spend the money, the purse had to be removed from the shoulder. The artifact…Więcej

Caesar with hair?

Really the nickname Caesar, actually caesar derives from the word caesaries, meaning shag, long hair. So Caesar, Caesar, it’s kind of “shaggy”. According to Scriptores Historiae Augustae, the Phoenician word means “elephant,” because Caesar’s ancestor…Więcej

Livia took care of herself

The wife of Octavian Augustus – Livia – took great care of her body, caring for both its beauty and health. She reportedly had a large number of hairdressers, masseuses, dressmakers, and jewellers among her…Więcej

Mosaic showing tigress attacking calf

Amazing Roman mosaic showing a tigress attacking a calf. The object is dated around the 4th century CE; is in the Capitoline Museums in Rome.Więcej

“Surprised” Neptune in chariot

Roman mosaic showing “surprised” Neptune in a chariot. Object dated to the 2nd century CE. The artifact is currently in the Musee des Beaux-Arts et d’Archeologie in Besançon (eastern France).Więcej

Roman medicine was of high standard

Roman medicine had its high level, especially in the legions. Celsus, a Roman scholar in the 1st century CE, claims that military doctors knew human anatomy much better than their colleagues in private practice. The…Więcej

Well I’ve played my part

Emperor Octavian Augustus (63 BCE – 14 CE), while lying on his death bed, asked his friends if they thought he had played his the drama of life. Finally, he was to say in Greek:…Więcej

Roman absolutism

From the end of the 3rd century CE, the emperor ceased to be princeps to become “domine” – dominat. We owe the new type of government to Diocletian, who ruled from 284 to 305 CE.…Więcej

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