Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)

After the murder of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BCE, the conspirators originally planned to expel the former dictator’s body in the Tiber. Ultimately, however, for unknown reasons, they left his bloodied body in Pompey’s theater. Thanks to this, the doctor Antistius could perform an autopsy.

How did the Romans cope with their diseases and were they even aware of their aetiology? The answer to this is the “De Re Rustica” of Terentius Varro. This may surprise us, but hundred years ago we were aware of the presence of microorganisms and their pathogenic effect on humans!

The ancient author, Isidore of Seville in his work (Etymologiarum sive originum libri XX) mentions a surprising plant – herba sardonica – which was supposed to have surprising lethal properties. The victim who took a decoction from this Sardinian herb died with a smile on his face.

Marcus Aurelius, after the death of his wife, Faustina, who was younger than himself, was to resist the next marriage. He explained that he wanted to avoid any pressure from his stepmother on numerous offspring (Faustina and Aurelius had at least 12 children).

“Pyrrhic victory” is a victory achieved at excessive cost, for example with large losses in people and war equipment that are disproportionate to the achieved results. The name comes from the name of the king of Epirus – Pyrrus, who in the third century BCE waged a war against Rome. He had i.e. heavy losses but won at the battle of Asculum in 279 BCE.

Marcus Crassus was certainly the richest Roman of the 1st century BCE, if not the richest in all Rome’s history. He made a lot of money on construction, silver mining and loans for interest. He organized a “fire brigade” for the city of Rome. 

In ancient Rome, gladiatorial struggles appeared for the first time probably in the year 264 BCE. At the time, at the funeral of senator Decimius Junius Brutus Pera, which took place at the Forum Boarium, six warriors (three clashes) fought to commemorate the deceased.

Dies natalis (“birth day”) was in the Roman world the day of birth or the anniversary of the construction or event. Ancient Romans celebrated their birthday every year, in contrast to the Greeks who celebrated their birth on the same day each month of the so-called libation – drinking the most often mixed with water wine.

Marcus Tullius Cicero became famous for many won cases, speeches and sayings. He probably had no idea that it was due to his very original, as for the Roman, approach to the natural resources of his province, which today could be regarded as a precursor to the protection of biodiversity. Well, Cicero was not in high esteem of gladiators and often spoke critically about the involvement of animals in the games. He was outraged, among others, by the massacre of elephants during the Games organized by the Pompey the Great.

Ancient Romans sometimes had problems with determining the first seen creature that was brought from the next conquest. This is evidenced by detailed descriptions, which obviously pose a lot of difficulties to the authors. An example can be an extremely vivid description of an animal imported for the first time by Caesar for the needs of its four-day triumph in September 46 BCE.