Roman Empire Anecdotes
Marcus Attilius: The Novice Gladiator Who Beat Rome’s Veterans
A novice gladiator known from Pompeian graffiti, Marcus Attilius won two remarkable bouts against far more experienced fighters.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Nannies of the Empire: The Wet Nurses Who Raised Roman Children
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
When Rome Burned Books
Ancient Rome did not burn books constantly. But when it did, the flames revealed what certain writings could do: authorize rites, predict the future, wound reputations, preserve memory, or prove dangerous truths.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Ulpian: The Roman Lawyer Who Helped Define Justice
Ulpian rose from Tyre to the heart of Roman power, giving Roman law a language of justice, freedom, and dignity before dying in the violence of imperial politics.