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Unknown Facts are curiosities revealing little-known, surprising, or rarely discussed information from the world of ancient Rome and antiquity. This category includes unusual details, curiosities, and facts that offer a less obvious perspective on the Roman Empire.
The appearance in Roman mythology of Cybele is associated with defeats during the Second Punic War. In 205 BCE The Senate called on a college of priests to consult the Books of Sibyl about the results of the ongoing war. The priests have issued a verdict that the only thing that can save Italy in this tragic hour is to bring a new goddess to Rome.
In ancient Rome, a Roman salute performed with the right hand (called dextera or dextra) meant trust, friendship and loyalty or simple greeting.
Ancient Romans used ink, usually made of rubber and soot, to write on papyrus and parchment. They used red ink to better visualize the titles.
Gladiator fights were one of the most popular events for Roman society. The custom of gladiatorial fights derives from the Etruscan custom of worshipping the dead through fighting, rather than sacrificing human beings.
As reported by Pliny the Elder1, who lived in the middle of the 1st century CE, one of the most eaten fish among the ancient Romans was the red mullet. As he himself points out, the fish has a “double beard” (mullus barbatus) and is not suitable for breeding, and the best specimens can be found in open waters.
