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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.
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.
Foedus, i.e., covenant or treaty, was one of ancient Rome’s most important diplomatic tools. During the early Republic, Rome used the foedera to secure alliances and stabilize its political influence in Italy and on the outskirts of the growing state. These were formal agreements concluded with other cities, states and peoples that regulated the obligations, privileges and relationships between the parties.
Preserved remains of a nymphaeum or spring that was located near the Roman bath. The discovery was made in 1891. The object is located in the NT The Weir Garden in Swainshill (West of England).
Taxes were the financial foundation of ancient Rome, supporting its extensive administration, army, road construction, and other public investments. Two types of tributes played a key role in the Roman fiscal system: ordinary taxes (tributum ordinarium) and extraordinary taxes (tributum extraordinarium).
In ancient Rome, the Salii ritual was one of the most important elements of the cult of Mars, the god of war. These were elite priests who wore special costumes and performed characteristic ritual dances and songs during the annual celebrations. Their ceremonies were intended to ensure prosperity in wars, protect the city, and guarantee Rome’s power on the battlefields.
Augurs were key figures in the religious and political life of ancient Rome. Their main task was to interpret signs from the gods, which influenced the most important state decisions, from waging wars to selecting officials. The art of divination they practiced was known as auspicia, and its basis was the observation of the flight of birds, which resulted from the belief that birds were intermediaries between the world of humans and the world of gods.
