Bust of elegant Roman woman
Marble bust of an elegant Roman woman from the middle of the second century CE.
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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.
Dominant languages of Rome were Latin and Greek
The dominant languages of the Roman Empire were Latin and Greek. Latin appeared as a “language of rulers” and was widespread in the Empire, especially in the western provinces in the army and the courts. The Greek, in turn, was the determinant of good education and birth. This language dominated the east and was very useful in diplomatic missions.
Longest word of classical Latin
A longest word in classical Latin is the word subductisupercilicarptor [24 characters], meaning “a person who criticizes and raises his eyebrows upwards” – literally, this term was for an extremely critical critic. Aulus Gellius (2nd century CE) also mentions another long word in his “Attic Nights”: trisaeclisenex, which literally means “an old man living for three generations”.
Roman statue of Holconius Rufus
Roman marble statue of Holconius Rufus, who lived at begining of I century CE. Object found in Pompeii. Currently located in National Archaeological Museum, Naples. He was major figure on political scene in Pompeii.
Sporus, beloved of Nero
Sporus is an example of the tragic fate of a slave. He was a Roman slave who was adored by Emperor Nero because he reminded him of his dead wife Poppaa Sabina. Nero asked to subject the boy to castration and in the autumn of 66 CE during the emperor’s journey around Greece, he married him.
Ave Caesar morituri te salutant! – how often did the gladiators say these words?
Ave Caesar morituri te salutant! (“Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you!”) was a greeting of gladiators before the fight to the emperor. We know about the existence of this phrase thanks to the preserved work of Suetonius. The only question is whether those words were uttered always before the fight?
Slave – an object
Ancient Romans treated slaves like things and did not pay much attention to their lives. Marcus Terentius Varro, a man considered as one of the best-educated ancient Romans, treated slaves as nothing other than speaking tool (instrumentum vocale). In addition, he believed that food should not be wasted on sick and unemployed slaves, and that they should not eat too much.
Made of bronze sculpture of Triton
Roman bronze Triton from circa 2nd century CE. It was perhaps a fitting from a ship.
