Curiosities of ancient Rome (People)

Lucius Papirius Cursor (c. 365 – after 310 BCE) was one of the most valued and respected Romans in history. He held the office of consul five times and was a dictator twice. It was thanks to him that the Romans won the so-called Second Samnite War (326-304 BCE) and took revenge for the shameful defeat of the Caudine Forks in 321 BCE. Lucius Papirius Cursor received his nickname Cursor (“Runner”) because of his outstanding speed and efficiency in running.

Sextus Iulius Frontinus was a Roman soldier, politician (praetor, consul), governor of Britain in 74-78 CE, curator of aqueducts (curator aquarum) in Rome and writer. He lived in the years around 35-103 CE.

Quintus Fulvius Flaccus was the son of a four-time consul of the same name. In 182 BCE he became a praetor in Spain, where he won a series of victories over the Celtoiber people. In 179 BCE, he became a consul in Rome, and in 174 he was elected a censor.

Spartacus, the leader of the greatest slave revolt in Roman history, was most likely of Thracian origin, as evidenced by his fighting style in the arenas. He was incorporated into the Roman army as a soldier of auxiliary units.

Cassius Chaerea was a Roman soldier serving in the Roman army during the fighting in Germania. However, we are best known from the accounts of Suetonius as the person who killed the emperor Caligula for personal reasons.

“Sulla is a mulberry sprinkled o’er with meal” – this is how Lucius Cornelius Sulla was ridiculed by mocking Athenians¹. It was an allusion to his red face and a harsh rash against which piercing blue eyes gleamed. How does he describe the life of this Roman chief, Plutarch?

Marcus Fabius Quintilianus (approx. 35 – approx. 96 CE) became famous for his work “Institutes of Oratory”, on which many a humanist grew up. Quintilian taught the rhetoric for which he became famous in the Roman Empire, but he was also an outstanding educator. The scientist raised problems that concern modern people and that is why his thought is valid.

Boudicca, whose name means Victory (also known as Budyka or Boadicea), was a Celtic queen who in 60 or 61 CE rebelled against Roman power in ancient Britain. According to information obtained about her from ancient Roman historians – Tacitus and Cassius Dio, little is known about the previous life of this Celtic ruler.

The cynical use of the faith of fellow citizens to achieve their own political goals is not a feature only of today’s politicians. Already in the earliest periods, we find examples of people using similar practices. One such person was the Scipio Africanus the Elder (236-183 BCE), whom we know, thanks to reports from Polybius, that he had at least twice done such operations.