Roman Empire Historical Facts
Was Commodus Truly the Megalomaniac Gladiator Emperor?
Commodus was largely seen as capricious, self-indulgent, and more interested in personal pleasures than in governing the empire.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Maximinus Thrax: How did a Barbarian Giant, Become Roman Emperor?
Maximinus Thrax, also known as Maximinus I, was a Roman emperor who reigned from 235 to 238 CE, marking the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Cicero: Orator, Statesman, and Unintended Historian of the Roman Republic
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BCE) was widely regarded as one of Rome's greatest public speakers and prose stylists. His contributions span politics, law, philosophy, and literature, making him a key figure in Roman intellectual history.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Bacchanalia: Rome’s Forbidden Festival
The Bacchanalia, also known as Bacchanal or Carnival, were Roman festivals honoring Bacchus, inspired by elements of the Greek Dionysia.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
How Romans Viewed the Greeks: From Conquest to Cultural Fusion
The relationship between Romans and Greeks was complex, shaped by admiration, imitation, and a degree of tension.
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 Four Journeys of Hadrian, the Globetrotter Emperor of the Roman Empire
Hadrian, who reigned as Roman Emperor from AD 117 to 138, is widely regarded as one of the most traveled emperors in Roman history.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
The Marvels of Ancient Roman Aqueducts: Engineering Mastery That Stood the Test of Time
Ancient Roman aqueducts stand as towering symbols of Rome's advanced engineering and architectural prowess.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
The Chains of the Empire: Slavery in Roman Society
Slavery in the Roman Empire was a complex institution deeply embedded in the social, economic, and political systems of the ancient world.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Titus Livy: The Story of the Roman Celebrity Historian
Titus Livius, commonly known as Livy, was a Roman historian famous for his work Ab Urbe Condita ("From the Founding of the City"), a monumental history of Rome that spanned from its legendary founding in 753 BC to Livy's contemporary period in AD 9.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
The Unknown Lucullus: Far more than just Lucullan Meals
Lucius Licinius Lucullus was a prominent Roman general, statesman, and politician, best known for his luxurious lifestyle and lavish feasts, which became almost legendary in Roman culture.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Polybius: The Greek True Admirer, of the Roman Empire
Although Greek, Polybius is best known for his work The Histories, which covers the rise of the Roman Republic and its domination over the Mediterranean world, particularly focusing on the period between 264 and 146 BCE.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Born in the Purple: Τhe Ιmperial Color of the Roman Empire
Purple, in the context of the Roman Empire, was not merely a color; it was a symbol of power, nobility, and divine sanction.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
The Food Culture of Ancient Rome: What did the Different Social Classes Eat?
The everyday diet of the ancient Mediterranean has been relatively understudied, particularly the cultural importance of various foods in the Greek and Roman worlds.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
The Phenomenal Roman Bridges: Connecting Past with Present
How do some Roman bridges still stand today? What was it that made Roman engineering so unique?
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Garum: The Unami of Ancient Rome
What made garum, a type of fermented fish sauce, so extremely popular across the Roman Empire?