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Curiosities of ancient Rome

The world of ancient Romans abounded in a number of amazing curiosities and information. The source of knowledge about the life of the Romans are mainly works left to us by ancient writers or discoveries. The Romans left behind a lot of strange information and facts that are sometimes hard to believe.

Status of Roman woman

Woman in ancient Rome certainly had much more free life than in Greece. For example, during the classical period (up to 323 BCE), Greek women not only did not have civil rights, but they were also under the rule of a man. First, fathers, later husbands, from whom they were completely dependent. The whole life of an Athenian woman was limited to focusing on the home and children; on weekdays the woman was locked in her room, and only during the holidays she could leave hit. The relative improvement of the Greek woman’s status took place in the Hellenic period (323-30 BCE).

14 May 2019

Roman woman in blue coat

Roman woman in a blue coat. The object was found in Egypt; dated back to the half of 1st century CE.

13 May 2019

Sexually transmitted diseases in antiquity

People had to deal with sexually transmitted diseases in antiquity. One of them was, for example, herpes, for which the Romans invented two, not very popular methods of treatment. The first major plague epidemic appeared during the reign of emperor Tiberius, at the beginning of the first century CE.

13 May 2019

Footprints on arena

Footprints in the arena of the amphitheater in Serdica (current Sofia in Bulgaria). Dated to the 3rd-4th century CE.

12 May 2019

Story about Roman ghosts

The most famous story about the ghosts in which the ancient Romans appear. It relates to the event of February 1953 in the city of York, England. That day, the plumber Harry Martingale installed new central heating in the basement of Treasuerer’s House, when he unexpectedly heard the sound of a horn that came from a long distance.

12 May 2019

Cato and annexation of Cyprus

After expelling Cicero from Rome, Clodius still had to prevent him from returning. The presence of Cato the Younger – Cicero’s ally made it very difficult to implement these plans. To get rid of him from Rome, Clodius offered him to get Cyprus for Rome.

11 May 2019

Bust of Cato the Younger of Volubilis (Morocco)

Large Roman fibula with cameo

Large Roman fibula (decorative clasp) with cameo – probably showing Plautilla, the wife of emperor Caracalla.

11 May 2019

Custom spolia opima

Spolia opima (“great loot”) was a martial custom in republican Rome. According to it, the person who defeated in the direct duel the general of the hostile army was granted the honor of putting the armor drawn from his body and the rest of the gear in the temple of Jupiter Feret’rius on the Capitol.

11 May 2019

Pollice verso

Pollice verso (also referred to as verso pollice) was a gesture condemning the defeated gladiator in ancient Rome to death. Contrary to common beliefs and the image disseminated by cinematography, it is uncertain whether in ancient Rome this gesture was actually in the form of a thumb pointing downwards

9 May 2019

Slaves fought at funeral of rich Roman

During the funeral of a wealthy Roman slaves had to fight with each other. This was done because it was thought that the blood calms the gods, and the show relaxed a family in mourning. This custom was initiated by the Brutus family, when in 264 BCE a family member died – Decimus Brutus. Then, a fight between three warrior pairs was arranged.

9 May 2019