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.

How much did gladiatorial fight cost?

Gladiator fights were one of the most popular events for Roman society. The custom of gladiatorial fights derives from the Etruscan custom of worshipping the dead through fighting, rather than sacrificing human beings. In Rome,…Więcej

Cleopatra tried to cure Caesar’s baldness

Cleopatra tried to heal baldness of Julius Caesar. The famous Roman physician Galen (2nd century CE) claimed that Cleopatra recommended a paste of burned mice, rags, horse’s teeth for this condition; bear fat; deer marrow…Więcej

Roman-Carthaginian relations before Punic Wars

There is much talk about the Punic Wars that took place between the Roman Republic and Carthage, also known as Kart Hadasht, or the city of Dido. In the years 264-146 BCE, there were three…Więcej

Cato the Younger method to save wealth

Cato the Younger, a Roman politician from the 1st century BCE, fearing losing the enormous wealth he had with him, amounting to seven thousand silver talents, figured out a way to secure his belongings on…Więcej

Cato the Younger was respected in youth

Cato the Younger (95-46 BCE) was known as an outstanding politician of ancient Rome in the 1st century BCE. He was the great-grandson of Cato the Elder and imitated his way of being, which was…Więcej

Don’t lie to Roman woman

In ancient Rome, it was allowed passive participation of senatorial sons in the deliberations of the senate, which was also part of the educational program. Of course, they were to be kept secret. Well, when…Więcej

Roman fresco showing daily expenses

We learn a lot about the expenses of ordinary citizens of course from Pompeii. It was there in one of the houses that the Roman “graffiti” survived; the resident calculates his expenses on the wall…Więcej

Roman tombstone with humorous dialogue

Interesting information was left by the Roman tombstone of Lucius Calidius Eroticus and his wife Fannia Voluptatis. The object was found in Isernia, in southern Italy, and dates back to the 1st-2nd century CE. The…Więcej

Antique gold-plated and silver-plated mirror

Antique gold-plated and silver-plated mirror from the 2nd-1st century BCE. The object sold for $ 116.500. There is a relief on the object showing Aphrodite, who is going to punish Eros with a sandal for…Więcej

Mullet – delicacy of ancient Romans

As reported by Pliny the Elder 1 Polybius, The Histories, XXXI.28.6 , who lived in the middle of the 1st century CE, one of the most eaten fish among the ancient Romans was the red…Więcej

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