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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.

Romans are always the first

When, during the conquest of Algeria in 1850, the French general Saint-Arnaud was crossing with his army the Atlas Mountains, through the Kang Pass, he thought he was the first European to take this path.

Atlas Mountains

Defend master!

If the owner of the slave was attacked and threatened with death, his slave was obliged to help his master, even when he has no weapon. He had to use all means to stop the attacker: fight with his bare hands, shout, separate master from the aggressor.

Roman mosaic showing slaves

Kill Pyrrhus!

Claudius Aelianus mentions that doctor of Pyrrhus – Cineas, wrote a secret letter to the Roman senate and demanded money, promising to murder Pyrrhus using poison. The senators rejected his offer, saying that “for Romans know how to achieve their goals thanks to their bravery and do not fight their enemies with trick, deceit or ambush”. What’s more, they informed Pyrrhus of Cineas offer.

Pyrrus

Earliest Roman beliefs

Originally, the Roman religion was animistic and abstract. Finally, Etruscan influences, during the kingdom, caused the Roman deities to become anthropomorphic. From the Etruscans, the custom of setting up temples was also accepted. On Capitol Hill, a shrine was erected, in which statues of the three most important Etruscan gods were found: Tinii – identified with Jupiter, Uni – with Juno and Minerva. These deities created the so-called the Capitoline Triad, replacing the Latin Triad: Jupiter, Mars and Quirin.

The Capitoline Triad

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