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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 citizen may have lost citizenship as a result of capitis deminutio media. The loss of citizenship also entailed the loss of freedom – capitis deminutio maxima (the greatest diminution of personality).
Trajan’s Halls (Mercatus Traiani) is probably the first shopping mall as we understand it today. They were created on the command of Emperor Trajan in the 2nd century CE (probably in the years 100-110 CE) by his architect Apollodor of Damascus. There were about 150 shops on several levels.
In the winter of 102 BCE, one of the legions was sent to the Adige valley, near today’s Trento. Consul Quintus Lutatius Catulus, with this movement, wanted to delay the movements of the incoming Cimbri – Germanic invaders from the north. Unfortunately for the legionaries, the Cimbri encircled their position and prepared to destroy the Roman forces in the valley.
Roman mosaic showing the personification of summer. The object is dated from the 3rd-2nd century BCE; located in a museum in Seville (Spain).
Marble bust of the Roman Empress – possibly Agrippina the Younger (15-59 CE), sister of Caligula, niece and wife of Emperor Claudius, as well as mother of Nero.
Antinous, lover of Emperor Hadrian, after his death in 130 CE he was deified, and the ruler ordered numerous portraits of him to be made en masse. As a result, many sculptures showing a young 19-year-old man have survived to our times.
Roman denarii found near Hadrian’s Wall. The artifacts date back to the middle of the 2nd century CE. and are now in the collection of the Duke of Northumberland at Alnwick Castle, Northern England.
Only free-born Roman men were allowed to wear the toga (symbol of citizenship). Putting on a toga was a difficult, not to say burdensome activity. The strip of fabric was folded lengthwise, one end was thrown over the left shoulder, a toga was placed over the back, the other end was passed under the right shoulder and thrown over the left shoulder from the front.
An ancient column that is part of a tomb from the 3rd century BCE. On the stone is the inscription “Achilleus, son of Prothymus, be happy even in the underworld”.
