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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.

Pax Deorum

Romans believed that their state was based on the Pax Deorum principle: if the Romans acted in accordance with the divine commands, then the gods acted in their favor. The greatest obstacle for the Romans to maintain this principle were Christians.

Fish on the Roman mosaic

Roman generals did not fight in battles

In popular culture, we can hear about Roman generals fighting side by side with legionaries. It must be clearly stated that this was not entirely true. The Roman leaders were commanders, not warriors. Only in exceptional situations, when it was necessary, the commander was involved in the fight.

Roman commander

Bust of lictor

Roman marble bust of a lictor. Dated back to early 2nd century CE. Located in Saint Petersburg, The State Hermitage Museum.

A bust of a liqueur

Beautiful Roman mosaic in Volubilis

Roman mosaic from The House of Orpheus, showing Orpheus playing a lute in the centre with wild African animals surrounding him. From the triclinium or the dining room of the villa looking out across the fertile plains. It is located in Volubilis Archaeological Site, near Meknes, Morocco.

Beautiful Roman mosaic in Volubilis

Romans did not like philosophy

The Roman Empire gave birth to some truly outstanding philosophers such as Seneca the Yougher or Marcus Aurelius. That does not mean, however, that the Romans, like the Greeks, considered meditation an important aspect of life. First, according to the Romans, philosophy was a Greek invention, and as they were conquered by the “sons of She-wolf”, it was not worthy for the Roman to deal with the matter invented by the Greek.

Marcus Aurelius

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