Roman Empire Anecdotes
Rome Recycled More Than We Think
Romans gave old materials surprisingly long lives. Glass, metal, pottery, textiles, papyrus and even buildings could be repaired, reused, sold or remade.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
No Fridge? No Problem: How Romans Preserved Food
Romans preserved food through drying, salting, smoking, pickling, fermentation and careful storage, using techniques that could keep grain, fruit, cheese, meat and wine usable for months.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
The Businesswomen of Ancient Rome
Roman women lent money, ran shops and workshops, owned productive property, took part in long-distance trade and managed agricultural estates. The surviving evidence reveals a much wider female presence in the Roman economy than the traditional image suggests.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
The Aroma of Rome: Perfumes of Power, Pleasure, and Prestige
Perfume in Rome was far more than adornment. From daily anointing after the bath to clouds of incense greeting emperors in the streets, scent became a language of status, ritual, and identity—at once a personal luxury and a public symbol of power.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Convivium: How the Romans Turned Dinner into a Display of Power
They didn’t just dine—they performed. The Roman convivium was a spectacle of power, where food, posture, and even the furniture spoke volumes about wealth, status, and control. To eat was to assert who you were—and who you weren’t.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
The Zoninus Collar: The Iron Collar that Spoke for the Silenced
It was meant to silence, yet it speaks across centuries. The Zoninus Collar—an iron ring forged not for adornment but for domination—once gripped the neck of a runaway slave in ancient Rome.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Shaping a Legend: The Evolution of Trajan’s Reputation
Emperor Trajan, is remembered by history as one of Rome’s greatest leaders, who epitomized the ideals of a just and capable ruler.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Whispers on the Walls: Graffiti as a Voice of Ancient Rome
For tens of thousands of years, people have been leaving their marks on the walls. How was street art during the Empire perceived?
Roman Empire Anecdotes
How did Romans Go to the Toilet and Use Urine in Ways we Cannot Imagine Today
How did the Romans go about… number one and number two, and how did they utilize their human waste?
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Monte Testaccio: A Roman Hill Entirely Made Of Amphorae Fragments
Monte Testaccio, is one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the city of Rome, totally artificial, composed of pieces of broken jars.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Olive Oil in the Roman Empire: Romans and their Liquid Gold
Olive oil was a fundamental aspect of the Roman diet and was transported everywhere in the Empire.