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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.
A military diploma is the modern name of Roman documents confirming the release from the army and the granting of Roman citizenship to a veteran of auxiliary units by the emperor. It existed as a reward for faithful service. The diploma was drawn up by imperial officials and displayed to the public in Rome.
During the reign of Nero (54-68 CE), a plan appeared to dig a 257 km long water canal from Lake Avernus, near Puteoli (Pozzuoli), to the vicinity of Rome. The idea was to secure grain supplies to the capital, as ships often crashed in the final stretch between Puteoli and Rome. Established during the rule of Claudius (41-54 CE), the new port at the mouth of the Tiber meant that many ships were pushed back by storms onto the built embankments and fortifications.
Laudatio Iuliae amitae was a funeral speech given by Julius Caesar in 68 BCE in honour of his deceased aunt Julia (wife of Gaius Marius). The beginning of Caesar’s laudation (laudatio funebris) was preserved in the work of Suetonius, in which he praised the origin of the family.
Parricidia, was one of the most serious crimes in Roman criminal law. The term was used to refer to the killing of relatives.
The map showing the greatest territorial extent of the Roman Empire is well known, as is the history of the Roman legion in China. But how far south did the Romans travel on their African expeditions?
The Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, despite his brief reign (361-363 CE), contributed more to internal reform than any late- roman emperor. One of his decisions was to curb the bureaucracy and to reform the palace service, which was excessively large. Apparently, the reason for the reorganization of the palace structures was some funny event. Once Julian, who was growing his beard at that time, called for a barber. A wonderfully clothed dignitary surrounded by a swarm of helpers entered the room.
Gaius Julius Caesar introduced many reforms, the effects of which are still felt today. Many people will think of the calendar at this point, but no less important was the decision to grant citizenship to the inhabitants of Pre-Alpine Gaul.
As Italy’s last points of resistance were dying out in the war against allies, and Rome was calming down after the recent civil war, the king of Pontus, Mithridates VI Eupator, thrust a knife into the back of the Empire, attacking its eastern fringes. Pontic troops spread over the province of Asia defeating the Roman army.
Paul Zanker in his book “Apoteoza cesarzy rzymskich. Rytuał i przestrzeń miejska” accurately describes the ritual of apotheosis, also known as consecratio. At the same time, he comes to interesting general conclusions, comparing the apotheosis with contemporary mass events, such as the Oktoberfest. He explains that since the dawn of time, man has preferred to be in a community with certain rules and unique values. A Roman watching the solemn “Ascension” of the Emperor felt proud, a Pole who participated in the Independence March celebrations was proud.
In 1897, in Rome, on the right bank of the Tiber, the remains of a magnificent Roman villa were found. As it soon turned out, its perfect condition and decorations surpassed the beauty of the already known houses in Pompeii, or Herculaneum.
