Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)
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Pliny the Elder on hippos
As we read in the message Pliny the Elder, the Egyptian Nile River gives birth to large creatures, among whom he lists hippos. According to the Roman researcher, the skin of the animal is very durable and is used to ... Read more
Water or wine?
The censor Lucius Aurelius Cotta did not shy away from wine. During his tenure in 64 BCE Cicero applied for a consulate. A famous Roman orator was once thirsty for a drink of water. As his friends were standing around, ... Read more
Children of legionaries in camp
Even though at the beginning of the empire, Roman legionaries were not officially allowed to marry, they not only started a family, but they also did not keep it very secret. In 2013, in the Vindolanda legion camp (northern England), ... Read more
Fragile fate of emperor
Of the first successors of Octavian Augustus, only Tiberius died a natural death. Caligula was stabbed to death, Claudius was poisoned, and Nero was forced to commit suicide. As it turns out, the emperor’s life was not easy and comfortable. ... Read more
Tomb of Alexander the Great
The tomb of Alexander the Great was already a cult object and a destination for expeditions in antiquity. To this day, it is not entirely clear where he was. Supposedly, in 48 BCE Julius Caesar visited the tomb in which ... Read more
Book publishing in Rome
Publishers of Roman books tried to prevent their private copying by “throwing to the market” multiple copies at once. It wasn’t just about the competition, but more about keeping the text correct. Careless and uncontrolled private copyists made many mistakes ... Read more
Adultery in ancient Rome
A married Roman woman who had intercourse with someone other than her husband had committed adultery under Roman law. According to ancient accounts, if she was caught red-handed, her husband or father had the right to kill the woman. Cato ... Read more
Cursus publicus – post office of ancient Rome
There was also a post office in ancient Rome. It was called cursus publicus (“the way of the states”) and was a state post office, resulting from the territorial development of the Empire that required efficient communication and administration. The ... Read more
In ancient Rome, proscriptions were used
Proscriptions (proscriptio) in Roman law consisted in entering into the list of outlaws – political opponents and, consequently, their property and sentencing to exile. The children and grandchildren of the proscribed person were marked by infamy, that is, shame. Large ... Read more
Harshest punishments in ancient Rome
The worst crimes in ancient Rome included kidnapping, adultery, arson, bigamy, forgery, incest, rape, sexual assault, theft and treason.
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