Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)

Cicero on religion and superstitions:

Cicero is known as the most famous lawyer of ancient times and belongs to the most eminent speakers, lawyers of all time.
We know him less as a philosopher and, as we would say today, a scientist aware of the discoveries also in other areas of knowledge. Natural sciences were called at the time of Cicero as physiology.

Suetonius claims that emperor Augustus worshiped only old and permanent cults, i.e. cult of Ceres – he participated in the her mysteries. As he learned some secrets about the mysteries, he later settled the dispute between the participants of the rituals by removing the other judges from the tribunal.

Gaius Octavius, known also as Augustus, during his rule followed divination regarding certain days. He never left he city on the day after the day of the fairs. He also did not start anything in Nonae, explaining that he was willing to “avoid the bad omen from the name”. Nona in Roman mythology was the name of one of the Moirai – Clotho (Greek mythology), spinning thread of human life, and at the same time a goddess helping the nursing.

The ancient Romans realized the power of science and its importance. Gaius Petronius in one of his works (Banquet of Trimalchio) praises the power of knowledge in following way:

Romans were very superstitious. Before important events, especially before the battles and military expeditions, sacrifices were made to ensure the favor of the gods and signs were read.

In the process of building design and construction, the ancient Romans used scaled models that helped to design buildings and present their final form to clients.

The formal procedure for liberation of the slave (manumissio vindicta) took place in front of the praetor or consul and only with his consent (addictio). At least three people had to take part in the process: a slave, an owner and an outsider (adsertor libertatis) who was free and certified the freedom of a slave.

The main difference between a male and a female gladiator was the fact that a woman fighting in the arena was not a slave. Probably in the later Roman period, gladiatrices (singular gladiatrix) were also people from slavery. Originally, however, women voluntarily took part in gladiatorial battles, seeking adventures.

Description of zodiac signs according to Trimalchio, character of “The Banquet of Trimalchio” of Petronius.