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.

Roman ‘bird’s nest’ hairstyle

In ancient Rome, bird’s nest hairstyles were especially popular during the reign of the Flavian dynasty (69-96 CE) and the late empire. Roman women, especially those from the aristocracy, experimented with their hair, creating impressive…Więcej

Medicamina Faciei Femineae – cosmetics in ancient times according to Ovid

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…Więcej

How did you find yourself on streets of ancient Rome?

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…Więcej

Columella – Roman author on agriculture

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…Więcej

Diades of Pella – genius designer of war machines of Alexander the Great

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,…Więcej

Were there crucifixions of Christians in Colosseum?

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…Więcej

Publicans – Roman tenants of public revenues

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. The Publicani came from the equites…Więcej

Optimates

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,…Więcej

Plutarch of Chaeronea – famous Greek biographer

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…Więcej

Quintus Sulpicius Maximus – poet of great talent who ended tragically

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…Więcej

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