Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)

For enemies, Julius Caesar even calendar reform was an excuse to show dissatisfaction. Once, Caesar, leaving Rome, left a decree with orders for his deputies (as he usually did).

On December 31, 45 BCE unexpectedly died¹the current consul, Quintus Fabius Maximus. In his place – until the end of the year, that is for a few hours – Julius Caesar appointed Gaius Caninius Rebilus. Cicero joked about this: “Rebilus had to ask “in whose consulship he was consul”.

Cicero was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Roman orator. Popularizer of Greek philosophy and politician. A supporter of the optimates. He came from an old equestrian family – the Tullia.

In ancient Rome, homosexuality was tolerated, but while in Greece it had a certain exclusive character and was allowed only among free people, it was the other way around here – it was not proper to indulge in a Roman citizen.

Cicero was arguably one of the few not fooled by the polite and pleasant manner of being Julius Caesar, and who saw the fierce strength of his character. In all of Caesar’s hidden plans and all political tactics, Cicero saw autocratic plans.

Nowadays, it is common to take care of privacy in your apartments by installing pleats, blinds or curtains on the windows. In addition, this way you can effectively reduce the heating of rooms in the summer. As it turns out, these solutions were known already in ancient times.

Cicero (106-43 BCE) publicly ridiculed the continued increase in the number of senators in Rome. In the 1st century BCE Senate increased its number many times.

On June 1, 384 BCE the saviour of Rome Marcus Furius Camillus announced the construction of a temple Junons Coins. The building was dedicated in 344 BCE. on the northern hill of the Capitoline Hill, where, according to tradition, the house of Manlius Capitolineus once stood¹, and even earlier probably the castle (arx) of the kings. The nickname Moneta means Warning, Advising, from the Latin word monere.

Wealthy Romans often travelled with the litter. It got to such an extent that the Roman writer and rhetorician Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BCE – 65 CE) complained about the inconvenience of such a means of transport.

Emperor Domitian (51-96 CE) used to say that the prynceps are unhappy because they do not believe reports of the plot until they are murdered.