Roman Empire Historical Facts
Pliny the Elder: Scholar, Soldier, and Witness to Disaster
Pliny himself claims that he perused about 2,000 volumes and gathered 20,000 noteworthy facts from 100 authors
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Emperor Domitian: Tyrant or Reformer?
Emperor Domitian, who ruled Rome from 81 to 96 CE, is one of the most polarizing figures of the Roman Empire. Dismissed by many ancient writers as a tyrant and remembered for his strained relationship with the Senate, Domitian’s legacy is one of complexity and contradiction.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
From Soldier to Sovereign: The Rise and Reign of Vespasian
The final ruler during the tumultuous Year of the Four Emperors, Vespasian established the Flavian dynasty, which governed the Roman Empire for 27 years.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
The Roman Poet of Sharp Words: Martial and his Rome
Martial was a Roman poet, the man behind the epigrams, who is remembered for his razor-sharp commentary
Roman Empire Historical Facts
The Spiraling Legacy of Trajan's Column: Art, Propaganda, and Power
Trajan's Column is an iconic piece of Roman art and architecture, rich with historical, artistic, and cultural significance.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
We Researched the Roman Empire‘s Presence in the Orient: Here is What we Found
The Roman Empire left a notable architectural and cultural footprint in the East, where Roman monuments, cities, and even temples still stand as remnants of its reach.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Guarding the Word: Speech, Censorship, and Power in Ancient Rome
How were the Republic and the Empire treating freedom of speech? How did the emperors censor perceived threats?
Roman Empire Historical Facts
How did Romans Flood the Colosseum for Naval Battles in the Arena?
Were naumachiae actually held in the Colosseum? How did the Romans flood the arena to stage a naval battle?
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
Suetonius: The Faceless Scholar of Imperial Rome
Suetonius' influence extends beyond his own time. His biographical style set a precedent for later historians and biographers.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Fury on Wheels: The Legendary Chariot Races of Ancient Rome
Chariot racing was one of the most popular and enduring spectacles in ancient Rome, captivating audiences for centuries.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Gladiatrix: Scent of a Woman, in the Arena
Female gladiators, known as "gladiatrices," were a relatively rare phenomenon in ancient Rome compared to their male counterparts, but they did exist and played a significant role in the spectacle of gladiatorial combat.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Tacitus: The Chronicler of Rome’s Moral Decline
Publius Cornelius Tacitus, commonly known as Tacitus, was a Roman historian and politician. He is widely considered one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
“Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant”. What did Gladiators actually say before fighting?
The phrase Hail Emperor, those who are about to die, salute you, was not actually used by the gladiators.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Ingenious Warmth: How Romans Heat their Baths with the Hypocaust System
The Romans heated the water in their baths using a hypocaust system, which circulated hot air from a furnace beneath the floors and through the walls.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Damnatio memoriae: Condemnation and Eradication in the Political Sphere of Rome
Damnatio memoriae was a process of erasing everything there was about a person that was harmful to the Empire.