Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)
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McRoman – fast-food in ancient Rome
It is widely believed that fast food bars are a modern invention. However, ancient Rome does not quite agree with this statement. The first recipe for an ancient burger can be found in the cookbook Apicius, written in the first ... Read more
Colosseum had giant roof
Arena and the audience of the Colosseum were covered up with a giant sail (velarium), which was supposed to protect viewers from the sun and rain. It was attached to large columns on the Coliseum Mountain and anchored to the ... Read more
Interesting facts related to gladiator fights
Gladiators received cash prizes for their win. In the event of a decisive and effective victory, the warrior additionally received a laurel wreath. The greatest reward was the release from fighting in the arena, which was shown by handing over ... Read more
Scorpions in antiquity
Pliny the Elder said that scorpions are a terrible plague. They are almost as venomous as vipers, but their venom causes much more torture to the victim who dies in painful agony lasting up to three days. In turn, the ... Read more
Vulgar work of Catullus
In the 1st century BCE Roman poet Gaius Valerius Catullus (c. 84 – c. 54 BCE) wrote a poem that was addressed to two critics of his work: another poet Marcus Furius Bibaculus and senator Marcus Aurelius Cotta Maximus Messalinus. ... Read more
Romans not rated by skin color
Romans were not racists at all and not rated by skin colour. Seneca the Younger claimed that people with black complexion were not a surprise in Rome. An interesting argument from Seneca is below. In the next place, we ought ... Read more
Demonstration of Roman women
In 215 BCE Roman Republic was experiencing a powerful political and economic crisis. The defeats suffered by Hannibal in the Second Punic War cost Rome a great deal of lives and money. Therefore, the Senate began to look for different ... Read more
Goths’ emigration
On August 9, 378 CE near Adrianopol (once Thrace, now the province of Edirne in Turkey) there was a great battle, the result of which Saint Ambrose summed up with the words: “the end of all humanity, the end of ... Read more
Veni, vidi, vici – where do these words come from?
The words of Julius Caesar “Veni, vidi, vici” felt after a quick victory over king of Pontus. In 47 BCE Pharnaces II of Pontus challenged Rome. The matter was resolved by Caesar during the quick campaign ended with the victorious ... Read more
O tempora, o mores!
O tempora, o mores!, meaning “Oh the times! Oh the customs!” – these were the words Cicero uttered against Catilina. In his speech, Cicero turns to Catilina, who had previously tried to murder him. The great Roman speaker condemns corruption ... Read more
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