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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.

Atia the Elder manipulator?

Atia the Elder, niece of Julius Caesar and mother of Gaius Octavian and Octavia was one of the most expressive female characters in the television series “Rome”. In the series, she was shown as an amoral manipulator who allows herself to play with the feelings and matchmaker of her family members to achieve political goals. Do historical sources confirm this?

Polly Walker as Atia the Elder and James Purefoy as Antony in Rome

Roman barge

31 meters long Roman barge from the 1st century CE was fished in 2011 from the Rhône River in Arles (France). After two thousand years spent in the mud, its condition is intact.

Roman barge

Syagrius – king of Romans

Syagrius (430-486 or 487 CE) was a Roman commander and the last governor (dux) of Gaul – called by the surrounding barbarian tribes “king of the Romans1” (rex Romanorum). He was the son of the Roman governor Egidius.

The reign of Syagrius

Invasions of Getae and Dacians

Dacians and Getae were related barbarian tribes that had rivalled the Romans many times throughout history. They inhabited the territory of present-day Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and even Ukraine. Their greatest advantage was sudden raids on Roman territories, which used the element of surprise, including extremely effective cavalry.

Dacian village from the 1st century CE

Death of emperor Augustus

In ancient Rome, the brutal, violent death of the ruler was inscribed in the logic of power to such an extent that today it is often said that the profession of “emperor” was the most dangerous profession in the world. Of the twelve emperors who died in the first century CE, only four died naturally. Murder as a way to change power was so obvious that natural death always aroused suspicion and was a source of conjecture as to whether no one had contributed to it.

Roman sculpture showing Octavian Augustus

Method Ruina Montium

This is what is left of a mountain massif in Spain after the method Ruina Montium was used by the Romans. With the help of slaves, tunnels were dug in the mountain, through which the water was then diverted by at least seven aqueducts.

Method Ruina Montium

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