Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)

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Unknown Facts are curiosities revealing little-known, surprising, or rarely discussed information from the world of ancient Rome and antiquity. This category includes unusual details, curiosities, and facts that offer a less obvious perspective on the Roman Empire.

Roman associations

In ancient Rome operated colleges (collegia), gathering employees of the same branch of trade. These types of associations were created either on the initiative of the Senate or independently. What’s more, there were also religious…Więcej

Cicero, etymology of names and philosophy of “to have or to be”

Cicero, etymology of names and philosophy of “to have or to be”: But Jupiter himself — the name means ‘the helping father,’ whom with a change of inflexion we style Jove, from iuvare ‘to help’;…Więcej

Cicero and etymology of the names of celestial bodies

According to Greek mythology, Saturn or Cronos was to deprive his father of his masculinity, and Jupiter was to be imprisoned his father Saturn. As states Cicero: Another theory also, and that a scientific one,…Więcej

Hypocrisy in eyes of Romans

Hypocrisy in eyes of Romans: Again, when a corrupt and extravagant man was expatiating in the senate on frugality and self-restraint, Amnaeus sprang to his feet and said: “Who can endure it, my man, when…Więcej

“Self-made man” in Roman edition

“Self-made man” in the Roman edition – during discussion in “The Banquet of Trimalchio” (Petronius): So you’re a Roman knight! Well, I’m a king’s son! How’s it come that you’ve been a slave, you’ll ask…Więcej

Etymology of Latin names

According to Marcus Terentius Varro, whose works have been preserved in a very small and poor form, we can trace the etymology of Latin names associated with the rise of the city of Rome. And…Więcej

End of penalty ad beast

On October 1, 326 CE Emperor Constantine prohibited the penalty ad beast and exchanged it for metella. This meant that it was no longer allowed to punish with tearing in the arena by wild animals,…Więcej

“The Hunger Games”

Considering the success of the movie “The Hunger Games”, we do not differ much from the ancient Romans when it comes to the passion for cruel pastimes. Gladiators fighting each other in the middle of…Więcej

Brutal games

Despite the fact that the Romans over the years have organized bloody games on an increasing scale, some emperors tried to curb the bestiality. Already at the beginning of rule of Augustus, he tried to…Więcej

What did logistics look like in Roman times?

On the ORBIS website was launched an project “Stanford Geospatial Network Model of the Roman World”, which will allow us to find out how long it took and how much it cost to travel in…Więcej

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