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Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)

Interesting facts from the world of ancient Romans. The world of ancient Romans was full of amazing accounts and information.

What did gladiators eat?

Subsequent fights and constant effort required the gladiator’s body to receive the right amount of food with the right nutritional values. We know about what ancient gladiators ate thanks to discoveries from Turkey and ancient records.

Mosaic showing gladiators from Nimes

Plan of Roman house

The plan shows a typical Roman house (domus) in ancient Rome. Obviously, the number of rooms and the structure changed, depending on the times and wealth of the host; nevertheless, the layout and location of the rooms in the house were basically similar.

Peristyle in the House of Venus in a shell, Pompeii

What did word “brutus” mean?

The word “brutus” literally means “dumb”. It came from Lucius Junius Brutus – known as the freedman of Rome, the first consul who expelled Tarquinius Superbus (the last Roman king). He was pretended to be a fool to survive at Tarquini’s court.

Lucius Iunius Brutus

Thermopolium – antique street bar

Thermopolium was an antique street bar that literally means “the place where you sell (something) warm”. This type of place was popular in Greek or Roman cities among the poor who could not afford their own kitchen. Today we could describe such a place as “fast-food”.

Thermopolium in Pompeii

Roman amber

Ancient Romans called amber as lyncurium (other names are lyngurium or ligurium), meaning “lynx urine” because according to the beliefs, the golden object was created from the petrified urine of this predator (apparently the best came from male urine).

Amber

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