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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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Medicamina Faciei Femineae, or “Cosmetics for the Female Face”, is a fascinating treatise written by Ovid, one of the most famous poets of ancient Rome. This is a work that reflects the ancient approach to female beauty. It is a poetic facial care instruction. Interestingly, this text can be considered one of the first cosmetology magazines in literature.
Nowadays, street names and house numbers are used to identify a place of residence. It is a simple and effective system, but the ancient Romans did not use it. In small towns, finding a given house by a stranger might not have been a big challenge. Such a person was certainly helped by local residents and guided him accordingly.
Columella, or Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella, was a Roman agronomic writer who lived in the 1st century CE and is one of the most important authors of ancient texts on agriculture. His work De re rustica (On Agriculture), consisting of twelve books, is a comprehensive agricultural manual that describes all aspects of farm management – from growing plants, through animal husbandry, to methods of storing crops. Columella also wrote about the owner’s role on the farm, and his advice was addressed to both landowners and ordinary farmers. Columella’s work has survived and is still an important source of knowledge about ancient agriculture and man’s relationship to the land.
Diades of Pella was an ancient military engineer and one of Alexander the Great’s closest advisors, considered a true innovator in the field of war machines. While many aspects of his life remain a mystery, his contribution to the art of warfare is undeniable. Diades was from Pella, the capital of Macedonia, and probably trained under Polydus of Thessaly, one of the most respected engineers of the time.
Colosseum, a monumental amphitheater in the center of ancient Rome, is not only a symbol of the power of the empire, but also a place shrouded in the legend of Christian suffering. The common idea of crucifixions taking place there arouses many emotions – but did it actually take place?
Publicans (publicani) in ancient Rome were entrepreneurs who administered taxes and participated in lucrative contracts to supply food and equipment to the legions and carried out large construction projects.
Optimates were a political faction in the late Roman Republic that emerged from conflicts between the senate and the populares, a faction that sided with the people. The term “optimates” comes from the Latin optimates, which means “the best”, “the most distinguished”, and their goal was to defend the traditional values and interests of the senate and the aristocracy.
Plutarch of Chaeronea, who lived at the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, is one of the most famous writers, historians and philosophers of ancient Greece. His famous “Parallel Lives” is a collection of biographies that compare famous Greek and Roman figures – Alexander the Great with Julius Caesar or Demosthenes with Cicero. Plutarch created these biographies to highlight character traits, emphasizing their virtues and weaknesses. At a time when Rome dominated culture, his works were intended to combine Greek and Roman values, while creating inspiration for future generations.
Quintus Sulpicius Maximus is an extraordinary figure from ancient Rome whose story is both inspiring and tragic. In 94 CE a young boy, only eleven years old, amazed Rome with his enormous knowledge and poetic talent, taking part in a prestigious literary competition organized by the emperor Domitian himself (reigned 81-96 CE). His interesting works, written in Greek, were full of maturity and beauty, which aroused admiration even among the most important intellectuals of the time.
Soranos of Ephesus (98-138 CE) is one of the greatest physicians of antiquity, known mainly as a pioneer in the fields of gynecology, obstetrics and pediatrics. He lived in the times of the Roman Empire and was active in Alexandria and Rome, where he continued the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen. His achievements not only influenced ancient medicine but also shaped the foundations of modern medical practices, especially in caring for women and children.
