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Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)

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.

Divide and conquer – Romans’ method of conquest

Divide and conquer (divide et impera) is the principle of the conquest and subjugation of peoples by constantly inciting internal conflicts in conquered territories and acting as the mediator of conflicting parties. This method was already known in the ancient world, and the ancient Romans were the masters in its application.

Legionnaires in combat during Trajan's war with the Dacians (early 2nd century CE)

“The dice have been cast”

On January 10, 49 BCE Gaius Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River in northern Italy and thus started a civil war against Pompey and the Senate. In the days of the Roman Republic, the Rubicon was a border river between Pre-Alpine Gaul and Italy, and due to the growing political power of Julius Caesar, the Senate drew a border on the river, which he could not cross due to your legions. It was supposed to be a safeguard against a possible coup d’état.

Roman dice

Cicero and peas

Cicero, offered a silver cup as an offering, in the inscription, instead of his nickname, Cicero had the first letters of his name and a pea engraved (in Latin cicer means “peas”).

Cicero

Cicero’s family

As it turns out, Cicero – a great Roman orator and lawyer from the 1st century BCE – was a kind of kidding person, even from his immediate family.

Cicrero

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