Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)

The most famous port of ancient Rome is probably the one in Ostia – the main port of the Republic of Rome. However, this river haven has not always been able to meet the needs of a rapidly growing metropolis. That is why in the first century CE Emperor Claudius founded Portus, an imperial seaport that was used continuously until the 8th century when a fleet resided there under the command of Pope Constantine (708-715).

For many, the United States is the modern homeland of democracy – many solutions from the US political system have been adopted in European countries. For years, American leaders have been referring to ancient patterns, as evidenced by the names of cities and streets that clearly refer to, among others, the Roman world.

During the republic, in the 2nd century BCE have developed and fully formed the basic moral values of the ancient Romans. The most important feature was virtus (virtue). It meant a behaviour worthy of a real man (vir), according to the rules of law and honour, the ability to distinguish what is good from what is bad. It is also “setting boundaries and restraint to your desires”, as Gaius Lucilius – a friend of Scipio Aemilianus wrote.

Gladiators fighting in the arenas were not condemned to eternal life in captivity and fight for their lives, to the delight of the crowds. Certainly many have won their freedom, as evidenced by the stories of ancient historians.

“The Last Roman” is a colloquial term used in historical journalism to describe a character who is considered the last representative of ancient culture and ancient Roman virtues in the face of the end of the age and progressive barbarization. The term comes from the work of Cremutius Cordius, a Roman historian who, being the advocate of the republican system, called “the last Romans” (ultimus Romanorum) of Mark Brutus and Cassius – the killers of Julius Caesar.

Suetonius mentions in his “Lives of Caesars” that the so-called Nero’s Golden House had a special dining room that moved day and night, like a celestial vault. In 2009, a building was found that fits the ancient descriptions, and which dates back to the reign of Nero (54-68 CE).

Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor in the years 161-180 CE, was one of the most eminent and best educated Roman emperors. Because of his unusual interest in philosophy, he was called a “philosopher on the throne”. Many of his thoughts have survived to our times, which we can find in his “Meditations”. One of the most beautiful is the following.

Gladiators were extremely popular and therefore popular with women. There was even a situation when sweat of Roman gladiators were mixed with dirt and olive oil scraped from the skin with a special tool strigil and then sold in vials as aphrodisiac.

Hibernia is the Latin name of Ireland (also known as Britannia Hibernia), given to it by the Romans. The Roman name was transformed into Hibernia because of its similarity to the word hibernus – “winter”.

Masinissa was the first king of Numidia (present-day eastern Algeria and western Tunisia) in 202-148 BCE and an important ally of the Romans¹ in the second Punic war against Carthage. It was in the battle of Zama in 202 BCE that the Numidian cavalry largely determined the defeat of Hannibal.