Curiosities of ancient Rome (Unknown facts)

During the II war with the Mithridates (73-63 BCE), the Romans, headed by Lucullus to Pontus near the Black Sea coast and besieged the Pontic city of Themyscira¹. According to Appian from Alexandria there was an unexpected defense strategy from the inhabitants.

Islamic fundamentalists in Syria are responsible for the destruction of many ancient monuments, including Byzantine mosaics and Greco-Roman statues. They do so because showing human beings in art is inconsistent with their confession. It is believed that destroying monuments in Syria is a greater disaster for cultural heritage than blowing up a giant statue of Buddha in Bamian (Afghanistan) in 2001. Then, also, religion was the motif.

In the teritory, which was once under the rule of the Roman Empire, scientists find many interesting objects. Among them are whistles. But the question is whether the whistles, apart from everyday life, were also used in the Roman army, including during warfare?

When, during the conquest of Algeria in 1850, the French general Saint-Arnaud was crossing with his army the Atlas Mountains, through the Kang Pass, he thought he was the first European to take this path.

If the owner of the slave was attacked and threatened with death, his slave was obliged to help his master, even when he has no weapon. He had to use all means to stop the attacker: fight with his bare hands, shout, separate master from the aggressor.

Now, most of the tourists who come to Rome throw coins into Fontanna di Trevi, hoping to return to the city again. In ancient Rome, this custom was also present, but it was associated with the celebration of the birth of Augustus.

Letters SPQR can be seen on many monuments, buildings and banners. They mean Senatus Populusque Romanus, meaning “Roman Senate and People”. These words were a symbol of Roman identity and official name of the Roman Empire. Abbreviation SPQR, until the eagle’s image became popular, served as the state emblem.

Researchers from UCLA and the National Gallery of Art in Washington used the latest technologies to discover the process of the creation of an ancient work of art – a female Fayum mummy portrait.

In ancient times, urine was a valuable commodity and many people collected it and then delivered it for a fee to manufactories that used it to bleach the material and remove stains. Due to this practice and the desire to provide additional funds to the state treasury, in 74 CE, Emperor Vespasian introduced urine tax (urinae vectigal).

Roman tax collectors were apparently usually extraordinary “extortioners.” The father of Emperor Vespasian – Titus Flavius Sabinus was an exception. He was a tax collector of the fortieth part (quadragesima, port tax) in Asia. According to sources, he was an extremely righteous and just man in performing his role.