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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.
In ancient Rome, it was realized that a high number of births guaranteed the proper development of the state and society. During the rule of Octavian Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE), it was decided to outlaw abortion and contraception. As it turns out from paleopathological studies, the most common reason for the population decline was a low number of births, not infanticide or high infant mortality at birth.
Roman sculpture showing Lysimachus, one of the generals of Alexander the Great. The object dates back to the 2nd century BCE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. It is a copy of the Greek original.
On the tombstone visible in the photo I came across in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. The full Latin text reads: D(is) M(anibus) / T(ito) Fl(avio) Vero Aug(usti) / lib(erto) tab(ulario) rat(ionis) / aquarior(um) co(n)/iugi bene me/renti Octa/via Thetis fecit.
In the years 421-422, the Eastern Roman Empire waged another war with the Sassanid State. The troops, led by magister militum per orientem Ardabur, entered Persian Mesopotamia but were quickly driven back by superior Persian forces.
In 67 BCE Lucius Licinius Lucullus was recalled to Rome, and Pompey the Great became the commander of the Roman armies fighting in the east. Lucullus was disliked by the soldiers for being stingy and for limiting their ability to plunder. Most of all, however, he was hated by the Fimbrian legionnaires – veterans with more than 20 years of service behind them.
The famous phrase “Lucullus’ feasts” comes from the name of a Roman leader and politician from the 1st century BCE Lucinius Lucullus (117-56 BCE), who had a reputation as a gourmet.
After hearing the slogan “the farthest part of the Roman Empire”, most of us will probably think of wild Britain or Mesopotamia, conquered for a moment by Trajan. However, modern discoveries have shown that the truth may be different and very surprising. We are talking about a Roman garrison on inconspicuous Arabian islands – over 3,900 km from Rome itself.
Pliny the Elder mentions a certain amazing amphitheatre of Scribonius Curio, erected in 52 BCE.
Emperor Caligula (reigned 37-41 CE) went down in history as one of the worst rulers of the Roman Empire. Many stories about him arose in the works of writers who came from senatorial circles. Among other things, Suetonius describes that Caligula himself allegedly participated in gladiator fights.
