Curiosities of ancient Rome
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.
Construction disaster in Fidenae
During the reign of Emperor Tiberius, in 27 CE, the greatest construction disaster in ancient Rome took place. In Fidenae (a town not far north of Rome) a wooden amphitheatre has collapsed. According to Suetonius, over 20,000 people died under the rubble; Tacitus gives the figure of 50,000 dead and maimed.
Beautiful reconstruction of Roman theater in Augusta Emerita
Beautiful reconstruction of the Roman theatre in Augusta Emerita (the present-day city of Merida in Spain). The object was built in the years 16-15 BCE and was dedicated to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a faithful friend and leader of Emperor Octavian Augustus.
Roman lunch
The basic ingredient of Roman’s dinner was bread made of various types of flour: black bread (panis rusticus, plebeius), white bread (panis secundaris) and the softest bread luxurious (panis candidus, uniform). There was no shortage of vegetables, lettuce, cabbage, leeks, chickpeas, broad beans (boiled, roasted), goat cheese and olives.
Roman wing-shaped fibula
Roman wing-shaped fibula made of silver, gold and carnelian. These types of fibulae were widely popular in the Roman provinces of Noricum and Pannonia and were worn by women on their shoulders.
Bust of Emperor Trajan
Bust of Roman Emperor Trajan, who ruled from 98-117 CE. The object is on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna in Austria.
Sex in middle of female cycle?
Roman doctors recommended having sex in the middle of a woman’s menstrual cycle, which would guarantee a zero chance of becoming pregnant. As we currently know, this is the most “dangerous period” for such activities.