Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)
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Roman prisoners fighting at funeral of Crixus
When in 72 BCE the insurgent army of Spartacus’ slaves marched north through Italy, towards the Alps, the insurgent forces split up. Gauls and Germans, under the command of a certain Crixus, went ahead to plunder Apulia (eastern, central Italy) ... Read more
Term “Eternal City”
Name “Eternal City” (Urbs aeterna) was finally given to Rome by Emperor Hadrian, but he had already used it before 1st-century writer Tibullus in “Elegies”. Even Ovid and Livy mentioned the eternity of Rome. After the fall of Nero in ... Read more
Roman Empire and North America
Comparison of the area of the Roman Empire and the North American continent. The map shows the Roman Empire around 117 CE, when the lands under Roman rule stretched from Egypt to Britain. It is amazing how long it was ... Read more
Trees next to roads
In ancient Rome, trees were planted along the roads, mainly pines and cypresses. Thus, travellers and merchants could stop and rest in the shade of the sun.
Caligula’s disease
Most historians agree that epilepsy is the most likely candidate for Caligula’s disease. There are several details in Caligula’s biography that support this argument. It is suggested that members of Julius’ family suffered from epilepsy. Additionally, several historians point out ... Read more
Mythical gorgons
According to Ulpian, the great Roman jurist, the mythical gorgons – dangerous sisters with a terrifying appearance, who were depicted as winged figures with claws, sharp fangs and hair in the form of poisonous snakes – inhabited Africa. They killed ... Read more
When did gladiator fights end?
Although gladiator fights were officially banned by Constantine the Great in the year 325 CE they were held until 404 CE. That year, on January 1, the Western Roman Emperor Honorius finally and irrevocably abolished these bloody games. He did ... Read more
Mithridates VI – victim of Roman imperialism?
In Roman sources, Mithridates VI Eupator appears to us as the leader of the wars that the Romans had to wage for about 25 years in the East. Mithridates was to strive to create a regional power from Pontus and ... Read more
Navigable canal for Nicomedia
Pliny the Younger began his clerk career under Emperor Domitian, but withdrew from public life, discouraged by the universal terror. He returned to politics under Emperor Trajan, who trusted him and entrusted him with the governorship of the province of ... Read more
People of Cantabri
Strabo, a Greek geographer and historian from the 1st century BCE in his work Geography mentions the people of Cantabria with whom Rome was at war in the years 29-19 BCE They were finally defeated only in 19 BCE by ... Read more
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