Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)

Clivus Capitolinus (“Capitoline Ascension”) road was the main road to the Roman Capitol. The road continued Via Sacra and stretched from the Forum Romanum to the Temple of Jupiter the Greatest. Clivus Capitolinus was the last and most important leg of the Roman triumphal route. It is worth mentioning that this road was one of the oldest in Rome.

In antiquity, salt, resin, honey and mouse droppings were considered abortives. At the Queen’s court, Cleopatra VII also used extracts of white poplar, juniper berries and fennel. Interestingly, modern medicine has confirmed the strong contraceptive properties of these plants.

Ancient Romans used two methods to count the past years.

Laughter in ancient Rome could be met in religious rituals (ritual laughter). The combination of laughter with sacrum was seen in many peoples. He performed at the ancient Romans during Lupercalia, agrarian (Liberaria) festivals, Consualia – in honour of Consus, triumphs, wedding processions and funerals.

The decline of the Roman republic changed the iconography of coins. During the reign of Julius Caesar, he first appeared in 44 BCE on the Roman coin as an image of a living man – the dictator of the time. This custom quickly found numerous followers. During the battles fought after the death of Caesar by the leaders of the falling Republic, almost all: Mark Antony, Octavian, Sextus Pompey, and even the defender of republican traditions – Marcus Junius Brutus, put their own image on the coins.

The sarcophagi were created in order to be able to hide the bodies in stone coffins that could stand on the surface of the earth. In this way, it was possible to save space on valuable land in rocky surroundings – there was no need to “waste” them on cemeteries because stone sarcophagi could be placed on unprofitable, from the agricultural point of view, rocks.

The ceremonial procession that preceded the Roman games was called the pompa cirensis. It was characterized by great splendour and picturesqueness. The procession started from the Capitol to reach the circus. At its head was the official who presided over the games, followed by priests, youth, players, dancers, musicians, and finally a procession of the gods in parade chariots.

Ancient Romans, on various occasions, but mainly during the January calendars, wished each other happiness with expressions of kindness and exchanged gifts. Ovid mentions that the Romans gave themselves gifts, mainly dates, figs, and honey. In addition, there were also cash gifts.

After the death of Nero, it was speculated that the emperor was alive and merely faked a suicide to escape from his torturers. His grave was worshipped, flowers were laid on it. There were several pretenders claiming to be Nero.