Roman Empire Anecdotes
Incense in Ancient Rome: Smoke, Ritual, and Power
From temple rites to family altars and funerals, incense in the Roman Empire was a ritual tool with global supply chains, moral debates, and political weight.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
The Elderly in Ancient Rome: Voices of Respect and Fear
Old age in Rome was both feared and revered. Cicero praised its dignity, Juvenal mocked its weakness, and proverbs marked sixty as the threshold of decline. Between honor and ridicule, the elderly lived at the margins of Roman society.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
From Circus Maximus to Amazon: The Real Story of Scorpus
Scorpus, star of the Greens, won 2,048 races before dying in his twenties. Celebrated by Martial and mourned by Rome, he rose from servile origins to become the darling of the Circus Maximus — a legend forged in speed, danger, and the roar of the crowd.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Niche Perfumes in Ancient Rome: How Did Emperors Smell Like?
Elite Romans treated scent as strategy. From Cleopatra’s Mendesian blends to Nero’s perfumed banquets, ancient niche perfumes signaled rank, taste, and power.
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 Anecdotes
Galen of Pergamon: Rome’s Most Famous Physician
From the sands of Pergamon’s arena to the palaces of Rome, Galen became the empire’s most famous physician, serving gladiators, emperors, and shaping medicine for over a millennium.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
The Plague of Cyprian: Disease, Faith, and Crisis in the Roman Empire
The Plague of Cyprian ravaged the Roman Empire in the 3rd century, killing thousands daily. Beyond its mystery symptoms, it reshaped society, challenged imperial power, and fueled Christianity’s rise.
Roman Empire News
How Roman Pandemics and Plagues Allowed Ecosystems to Recover from Pollution
The Roman Empire’s great plagues reshaped not only society but also nature. New science shows that during times of crisis, pollution levels dropped and the Mediterranean briefly healed.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
The Art of Poison in the Roman Empire
Poison in Rome was more than murder—it was myth, medicine, and metaphor. From household betrayals to imperial plots, it blurred the line between cure and crime.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Rome’s Hidden Cruelties: Disturbing facts about the Roman Empire (Part 1)
Behind Rome’s triumphal arches and marble forums lay a society built on domination. From infanticide and slavery to crucifixion and medical exploitation, cruelty was not an aberration—it was structure. This is the side of the empire history rarely glorifies.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Rome’s Tastiest Obsession: The Red Mullet and the Price of Prestige
The Roman passion for red mullet drove them to pay fortunes to have this delicacy on their tables.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Did Romans and Greeks have Abortions and Contraceptives?
Ancient societies tried to manage fertility with resources available in their environment, even though their effectiveness was uncertain and occasionally hazardous.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
The Antonine Plague: A Devastation that Reshaped the Roman Empire
The Antonine Plague was a turning point in the empire’s downfall—an often-overlooked epidemic that raged from 165 to 180 CE during the final years of the Antonine Dynasty.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Marking the Hours: The Roman Way of Measuring Time
The Romans employed various methods to measure time, integrating natural observations with technological innovations.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Did Ancient Romans Exercise to Keep Fit?
The idea that exercise and physical activity are beneficial is not a recent discovery; it has been recognized and practiced for thousands of years.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
The Magnificent Baths of Caracalla
The Baths of Caracalla, an expansive public bath complex stands as one of the most impressive architectural feats of the Roman Empire.