Roman Empire Anecdotes
Rent was a familiar worry in ancient Rome, even for people who were far from poor. When the money was not there, what could a tenant expect—and how much depended on the landlord?
Roman Empire Anecdotes
The last western emperor was removed in AD 476, but Roman life did not end with him. Across the former empire, new rulers inherited Roman institutions, laws and communities, reshaping them in different ways.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Horace rose from the son of a freedman to one of Rome’s most celebrated poets, writing about friendship, wine, ambition, ageing and the difficult art of knowing when enough was enough.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
A novice gladiator known from Pompeian graffiti, Marcus Attilius won two remarkable bouts against far more experienced fighters.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Born an Aemilius and adopted into the house of Scipio, Scipio Aemilianus built his reputation in Spain before becoming the conqueror of Carthage and Numantia.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Cato layered grain dough with fresh cheese centuries before macaroni and cheese. His Roman recipes reveal a surprising backstory, with important differences.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Rome’s colonies were more than new towns. They redistributed land, strengthened control and changed the balance between settlers and existing communities.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Rome depended on warehouses at Ostia, Portus and along the Tiber to turn seasonal grain arrivals into a steady food supply for the capital.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
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
Roman emperors received petitions, reports, legal questions and requests from across the Empire. Here is how that imperial correspondence actually worked.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Roman wet nurses did far more than feed infants. They could shape a child’s speech, habits and earliest education, while sometimes remaining part of their lives for decades.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Ancient vineyard practices, cellar instructions and judgements of quality complicate the idea that good wine is a modern achievement.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Painted across houses, baths and tombs, edicta munerum advertised gladiator games with dates, sponsors, fighters and extra attractions.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Aulus Gellius filled the Attic Nights with notes on books, conversations, language, philosophy, law and the curious details he wanted to remember.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Roman astronomy was shaped by soldiers, statesmen, poets and natural philosophers who studied eclipses, stars, planets, calendars and comets.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
From Thrasea Paetus and Helvidius Priscus to Basil, Ambrose and Martin of Tours, six men were remembered for refusing imperial demands. Their stories reveal very different forms of resistance; and very different levels of historical certainty.