Curiosities of ancient Rome (People)

In the transitional period between antiquity and the Middle Ages, when Christianity was consolidating its position as the state religion, events occurred that left a profound mark on the history of culture and science. One of the most renowned figures of this era was Hypatia – a philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer whose tragic death became a symbol of the changes sweeping through the world at that time.

Gaius Asinius Pollio (ca. 76 BCE – ca. 4 CE) was a Roman military officer, politician, supporter of Julius Caesar, and writer. Pollio’s greatest achievement was founding the first public library in Rome – the Atrium Libertatis (“Temple of Liberty”) in the Forum Romanum. Thanks to this building, works of Greek and Latin literature became more accessible. Pollio combined the library with an art gallery, making it a place with a multi-faceted cultural character. His actions initiated the tradition of creating public libraries in the empire.

Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus (ca. 228 – 160 BCE), an outstanding Roman commander and consul, made history thanks to his victory over Macedon at the Battle of Pydna in 168 BCE. He ended the Third Macedonian War and suppressed the power of Macedonia once and for all. His achievements were so important that he received the nickname Macedonicus, becoming a permanent part of the history of the empire.

Columella, or Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella, was a Roman agronomic writer who lived in the 1st century CE and is one of the most important authors of ancient texts on agriculture. His work De re rustica (On Agriculture), consisting of twelve books, is a comprehensive agricultural manual that describes all aspects of farm management – from growing plants, through animal husbandry, to methods of storing crops. Columella also wrote about the owner’s role on the farm, and his advice was addressed to both landowners and ordinary farmers. Columella’s work has survived and is still an important source of knowledge about ancient agriculture and man’s relationship to the land.

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.

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.

Hero of Alexandria, one of the most famous scientists of the ancient world, became famous as a brilliant inventor and mathematician whose works are still admired today. He lived in the 1st century CE and operated mainly in Alexandria, which was then the scientific center of the world. It was there that he created some of the most important works in mathematics, physics and engineering that have had a huge impact on the development of technology for centuries.