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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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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 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 Roman Emperor Trajan, who ruled from 98-117 CE. The object is on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna in Austria.
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.
Roman glass vessel with two handles. Object found in Colchester (southern England); it is now at Colchester Castle. Dated to the 4th century CE.
