For centuries, Ancient Rome ruled the world. The incredibly powerful Roman Empire united the world in a way that no other state has done before or since. However, we mostly know the facts from the life of the representatives of the upper class and rulers, while the interesting nuances of the daily life of other Romans remain little known. A variety of studies can give us an idea of the life of various classes and people who lived at that time.
Compared to other civilizations, the sanitary system of Rome was advanced, but this did not save the inhabitants from infections.
Access to high-quality and varied food was only for representatives of the upper classes
Ancient Rome is known for its incredible gluttony, but celebrations with exotic delicacies were only available to the upper class. The rest of the population of Rome sat on a forced diet, eating mainly cereals such as millet: its grains were the cheapest and were perceived as food for livestock - this means that most of the inhabitants literally ate like animals.
Despite living near the sea, the lower classes in Rome rarely ate fish and had only cereals at their disposal. This diet led to various health problems, including anemia and oral diseases. Most city dwellers ate well, but the farther from the center people lived, the poorer their food was.
Air pollution in ancient Rome
The level of air pollution in the Roman Empire was almost the same as in the modern world.
As a result of tests of glaciers in Greenland, climatologists have found that the level of methane in the atmosphere began to increase in ancient times. Methane was at its natural level until 100 BC, after which it rose and remained at a high level until 1600. This peak of methane emissions corresponds in time to the heyday of the Roman Empire.
During this period, a record release of methane was recorded - about 31 million tons per year, which is only 5 million less than the current level of emissions in the United States. In order to feed the entire empire, a huge amount of livestock was required - cattle, as well as sheep and goats. This, and the population growth of the Roman Empire in the West and the Chinese Empire in the East, contributed to air pollution.
Bribery was widespread among ancient Roman athletes
Wrestling as entertainment is common in many countries, and this tradition came to us from ancient Roman competitions. A papyrus dated to 267 AD, found in the Egyptian city of Oxyrhynchus, represents the first documented case of bribery in sports: a wrestler was willing to pay about 3,800 drachmas to win a duel - enough to buy a donkey. This amount is relatively small, but the competition on the Nile was spectacular, so there is no doubt that other wrestlers had the opportunity to sign such an agreement.
Bribery was widespread among Roman athletes, but the punishment was severe. It is said that the statue of Zeus at Olympia was built with fines from bribe takers. The Greek philosopher Philostratus once commented on the state of athletics, stating that coaches "have nothing to do with the reputation of athletes, but have become their advisors in buying and selling for profit."
Show of bestiaries in the Colosseum
Gladiator fights became more and more cruel and sophisticated over time.
Roman gladiator fights date back to 247 BC, when two brothers decided to celebrate their father's inheritance with a fight between slaves. Over the years, the game has improved and become more twisted and violent to satisfy the desires of fastidious Romans.
Gladiator fights began with the famous Caligula and gained fame thanks to the bestiary Karpophorus - they were designed to demonstrate the cruelty of man and the world. The bestiaries were supposed to train animals for the show, such as training eagles to eat the insides of a defeated gladiator. Karpophorus was the most famous bestiary of his time. He not only trained his monsters to kill the poor fellows in the Colosseum in the most sophisticated ways, but also fought them himself. The most shocking act that Sarpophorus taught the animals was the rape of imprisoned gladiators on command - this caused shock and awe among the public of the Colosseum.
Gladiator Energy Drinks
Athletes used energy drinks back in the Roman Empire - however, ancient drinks were exclusively natural
Energy drinks are widely used among modern athletes due to their ability to increase endurance. These drinks are also popular with fitness enthusiasts. But this is not an invention of the modern world at all. Gladiator energy drinks have been around for centuries before the advent of the gatorade.
The gladiatorial drinks contained ash extract, which is rich in calcium, which stimulates strong bones. In the remains of the gladiators, they did find an increased level of calcium, so this idea is not so far-fetched. What did the ancient energy drink taste like? Given that the drink was just ash and water, it must have been incredibly bitter, but the vinegar might have made it more palatable.
Ancient texts for the study of Latin
In ancient Latin textbooks, there were not only words, but also game dialogues to help you learn the language better
Most of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire spoke Greek and its dialects, but if anyone wanted to learn Latin, he turned to colloquia. These books not only taught the Greeks the Latin language, but also told about many situations and how to get out of them in the most profitable way.
Of the original manuscripts, only two have come down to us, dated to the second and sixth centuries. Some of the situations described in them deal with the first visit to public baths, what to do if you are late for school, and how to deal with a drinking close relative. These texts were widely distributed and accessible to the rich and the poor alike. It is believed that these situations were described for role-playing educational games, where students could feel the material and speech.
In the ancient city of Lattara on the territory of modern France, one of the oldest taverns of the Roman Empire was discovered
In Lattar, a historical site in France, a 2,000-year-old tavern from the time of the Roman Empire has been preserved, in which animal bones and skittles used by visitors were found. This place was probably popular among the local population in 175 - 75 BC, during the capture of the area by the Roman troops. In addition to drinks, the tavern had a large selection of dishes - including flatbread, fish, as well as sheep and veal tenderloins.
At one end of the kitchen were three large ovens, at the other, millstones for making flour. In the service area there was a fireplace and soft chairs, which created a cozy and comfortable atmosphere in the tavern - this is how we would like to see bars today.
The ancient Romans did not particularly value the life of newborn children - killing them was not considered something immoral.
It’s crazy for us to hear about this, but in ancient Rome, infanticide was quite common. Before the advent of effective contraceptives, a woman could, if desired, get rid of her child. Boys were valued more than girls, but archaeological research suggests that the number of children killed of both sexes is about the same.
In ancient Roman texts, there is even mention of the practice of infanticide, which indicates that the life of newborns was not particularly valued in Roman society. At birth, the baby was not yet considered a person. A child could bear this title only after reaching certain stages of development - the ability to speak, the appearance of teeth and the ability to eat solid food.
Ancient Roman builders showed amazing imagination and inventive mind, working on the greatest city in the history of mankind
In 2014, archaeologists began excavating what is believed to be the Temple of Fortune, the first temple built by the Romans. Since the temple was built in the seventh century, the geographical landscape has changed a lot since that time. According to the description, the temple was built on the Tiber River, but it was discovered thirty meters from it and was several feet below the water table. Although archaeologists were expecting other surprises: the ancient Romans put a lot of effort into building the perfect city.
The builders had to level the hills, fill in the swampy areas, even redirect the city's waterways with the further spread of buildings. They understood that in order to build a city and further develop it, they would need to make changes to the natural landscape to meet their needs. Such sophistication and engineering talent delights us to this day - as a result of these complex works, a city arose that became the center of the Western world, proving that all the efforts of the Romans were not in vain.
Mankind still admires the Roman Empire as the ideal not only of ancient civilization, but of civilization as a whole - its authorities, inhabitants and workers were progressive and ahead of their time. Modern people have a lot to learn from the ancient Romans - with the exception of cruelty and violence.
As a rule, for a modern layman, information about the Roman Empire is limited to information known from the school bench, or imposed by cinema. However, at that time, things were not as clear-cut as one might think. These little-known facts about Ancient Rome will surprise even history buffs.
1. The Colosseum was not the most popular entertainment venue for the Romans.
When it comes to entertainment in Rome, the Colosseum and gladiator fights immediately come to mind. However, the most popular place was not this arena, but a giant hippodrome. Circus Maximus("Big Circus"). If the Colosseum accommodated 50 thousand people, then there was enough space for 250 thousand spectators in the stands of the hippodrome. The whole city flocked to watch the spectacular chariot races. In no other place could more people be entertained than in Circus Maximus.
2 Roman galleys weren't slaves at the oars
In almost all films about the ancient Romans, you can see the same picture. When the action unfolds in the galleys, the clang of chains and the whistle of the overseer's whip are heard in the background, and the figures of slaves at oars flicker. Actually, it wasn't. In ancient Rome, as well as in ancient Greece, the ideology of "civil militarism" took place. Its essence was that everyone who considered himself a citizen of his country was obliged to fight for his state. And the state, in turn, is obliged to grant him political rights.
This position excluded the participation of slaves in hostilities, even as rowers. When there were exceptions to the rules, and slaves were admitted to military service, they were either previously released or promised freedom for courage in battle.
3. Not always 1 hour equaled 60 minutes
24 hours a day (12 hours - day and 12 hours - night) the Romans distributed in their own way. It all depended on the season and how long the daylight hours were. In summer, one daytime hour could last 80 minutes, while the night hour was only 40 minutes.
4. Not all Romans spoke Latin
At its best, the Roman Empire stretched from the Atlantic to the banks of the Tigris. It included about 65 million inhabitants. While Latin was the language of the army and Roman law, the peoples included in the empire continued to speak their own language. They were not forced to use the language of the conquerors.
The Roman elite was bilingual. Knowledge of Greek was an indicator of aristocratic status. When the senators killed Julius Caesar, he shouted out phrases not in Latin, but in Greek.
5 The Romans Didn't Like Philosophy
The empire gave the world such outstanding philosophers as Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. However, many Romans were very hostile to philosophy. There were two reasons for this: firstly, philosophy was considered a Greek "invention", and secondly, philosophy was not considered a profession at all. In the understanding of the Romans, a person who concentrated on self-knowledge became unable to bring real benefit to society.
6 Emperors Drank Poison Every Day
From the end of the 1st century A.D. e. among the Roman emperors, the practice of taking poison became popular. Every day, the rulers took tiny doses of known poisons in the hope that the body would develop immunity. Such an "explosive" mixture was called "Mithridatium", in honor of the Pontic king Mithridates the Great, who was the first to start taking poisons for preventive purposes.
7. The Romans believed they had every right to destroy all Christians
The Roman Empire relied on the principle of Pax Deorum ("Favour of the Gods"). According to this, if the Romans made sacrifices and worshiped their gods, then they helped them in return. Christians, on the contrary, were convinced that the pagan gods were evil demons, or even denied their existence. Therefore, the Romans tolerated all religions except Christianity.
The followers of the apostles of Jesus Christ had the opportunity to recognize the "traditional" gods. It was necessary to burn a pinch of incense in front of the idol and utter the ritual words. Those who did not agree to this faced a painful death.
8. Not all Romans died young
According to established opinion, most Romans did not live past the age of 25. This belief has several confirmations. Firstly, due to constant wars, young legionnaires died on the battlefield; secondly, a large number of women died during childbirth; thirdly, there was a high mortality among children. Those who did not participate in wars often lived to old age.
Family life in ancient Rome is in many ways similar to modern, but there were also radical differences. Some of these may shock today.
Ancient Rome is not only philosophers, gladiators and theaters. The Romans left behind a lot of mysteries, and some of their traditions would certainly never have been told to us at school in a history lesson, and this is for the best.
The Romans drank the blood of gladiators
In ancient Rome, they drank the blood of slain gladiators. It was believed that in this way the life force enters a person. Several Roman authors describe how, after gladiator fights, the blood of dead gladiators was collected and sold as medicine. The Romans believed that gladiatorial blood could cure epilepsy.
Romans didn't die young
Although the average life expectancy in ancient Rome was 25 years, many Romans lived to old age and boasted a life expectancy quite familiar to us. Probably, the establishment of the figure at 25 years was influenced by the frequent deaths of women during childbirth, as well as high infant mortality. On average, the Romans lived not much less than ours.
The measurement of time was rather conditional
The Roman hour could last from 75 of our modern minutes in summer to 44 in winter. The fact is that for the most part the Romans were guided by the sun. 12 hours of the day began at dawn, and after sunset, another 12 night hours were counted. But since the length of the day in winter and summer was very different, the length of each hour could change. Therefore, the Romans were quite tolerant of being late and were not particularly punctual.
Lilac is only for the rich
It was customary for the Romans to meet strangers “by their clothes”, or rather, by their color. There were two options: all "natural" colors, be it shades of brown-yellow and gray-black, were the natural color of sheep's wool and therefore were perceived as a sign of modest, poor citizens; and all shades of red, purple, green were created artificially, with the help of expensive dyes brought from afar, and were considered a sign of wealth and aristocracy. Wearing lilac clothes was considered a special chic.
Monobrow was considered a sign of intelligence
In Rome, thick, fused eyebrows were highly valued among women. They were considered a sign of high intelligence, so Roman women of fashion went to various tricks to increase the density and bushiness of their eyebrows. For example, they used artificial eyebrows made from goat hair. And they were glued to the face with the help of tree resin.
Dentistry was in demand
Ancient Rome had its own dentists, and the Romans themselves were very concerned about dental health. Archaeologists have even discovered a female jaw with dentures. Scientists believe that such products of ancient dentists were intended not so much for the successful absorption of food, but for demonstrating wealth, because only very wealthy people could afford to sparkle with a full mouth of teeth.
Romans didn't like philosophers
The Roman Empire produced such prominent philosophers as Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. Nevertheless, many Romans were hostile to philosophy. From the point of view of the practical Romans, the study of philosophy, with its concentration on the inner world of man, makes people unfit for active life and service to the state. Galen, a physician to the imperial court, remarked that the Romans considered philosophy no more useful than drilling millet seeds.
Roman generals did not fight
In art, military leaders are often depicted fighting on the front lines next to their soldiers. However, usually Roman commanders did not take part in the battle. They occupied command posts and directed the actions of the army from their "captain's bridge" in order to better navigate what was happening. Only in exceptional circumstances, when the battle was almost lost, was the commander supposed to either lay hands on himself or go looking for death at the hands of the enemy.
There was a tradition of drinking poison
From the end of the 1st century A.D. e. Roman emperors began the tradition of consuming small amounts of every known poison daily in an attempt to gain immunity. The mixture of poisons was called mithridatum in honor of Mithridates the Great, king of Pontus, who first tried this method.
Persecution of Christians
The Romans believed they had good reason to persecute Christians. The Romans believed that their empire was based on polytheism. Christians, on the other hand, argued that the pagan gods were evil demons, or even denied their existence. If the Romans were allowed to spread their beliefs to them, it would anger their gods. However, the Roman persecutors gave Christians every chance to recognize the traditional gods and thus avoid martyrdom. But believers could not make such a deal.
At feasts it was customary to induce vomiting
The Romans were so fond of excess in everything that they even introduced the tradition of inducing vomiting during banquets. According to Seneca, the Romans ate at feasts until they simply couldn't eat more, and then vomited to empty the stomach and continue eating.
Roman women dyed their hair
Roman women dyed their hair. Initially, dyed hair was considered a sign of women of easy virtue, but the third wife of Emperor Claudius, Messalina, introduced the fashion for wearing multi-colored wigs, and later for dyeing hair among the Roman nobility.
Horses were involved in politics
Incitatus was the favorite horse of Emperor Caligula. According to Suetonius, a statue of Incitatus was erected in marble and ivory, he had purple robes and harness made of precious stones. Dio Cassius tells that the horse ate oats mixed with golden scales. Suetonius also writes that Caligula planned to make Incitatus consul. Perhaps in this way the emperor wanted to play a trick on the senate, showing that even a horse is able to do the work of a senator.
Didn't use soap
The Romans took a bath every day, but they did not use soap. Instead, they rubbed themselves with oils, and then scraped them off along with the dirt with special scrapers.
Used an unusual method of washing
The Romans used human urine to wash clothes. The workers filled the vat with clothes, and then filled them with urine. After that, one person climbed into the vat and trampled on the clothes to wash them.
There are not many well-preserved great cities in the world, whose history begins before our era, but they did not turn into ruins, but still amaze the imagination with their architecture, museums, memorable places. No wonder the common name of the capital of Ancient Rome and the current Republic of Italy is the Eternal City. Interesting facts about Ancient Rome, a powerful state that in many ways served as the basis of modern Western civilization, always attract the attention of even sophisticated readers, including those who were lucky enough to be there.
From kingdom through republic to empire
So the cheat sheet for the exam sounds the history of Ancient Rome. The beginning is the founding of Rome by the "illegitimate" son of the god Mars Romulus, who had previously killed his brother Remus in the struggle for the right to found the Eternal City. This legendary event took place in 753 BC. e. Further until 476 AD. e., when the Roman Empire finally fell, a huge number of events happened:
- The basis of the original population of ancient Rome was made up of criminals, exiles from other cities of nearby lands. It is very reminiscent of the history of the settlement of the United States and Australia, where enlightened sailors exiled criminals of all stripes.
- When they lacked female attention, they kidnapped the Sabine women. When there was no money, they raided neighboring villages.
- But common sense, pointing to the dead-end path of such development of Ancient Rome, prevailed over the purely predatory method of development, and in parallel, various crafts and trade began to develop rapidly.
- Even in the tsarist period of government, stable power structures were created, such as the Senate, the institution of lictors. The reign of the last king, who tired the freedom-loving people of Rome with his tyranny, ended in 509 BC. e. creation of the Roman Republic. An interesting fact is that the area of the territory that belonged to the Eternal City of that period of history, according to historical evidence, the results of archaeological excavations, was no more than 900 square kilometers of land located along the banks of the Tiber River.
- It took the Roman Republic exactly 240 years to expand its sovereign land area to the whole of Italy. Of course, it was a story of conquest. The invincible Roman army was forged in them, the principles of construction, management, supply of which were reflected in the creation of even modern troops. Not everything was always smooth sailing. Once, the newly emerging power of the republic was defeated by the Gauls who invaded the lands of Italy, as a result, Rome was burned.
- But the city was rebuilt again, and the lands were reclaimed. The true heyday of Ancient Rome is associated with the period of the empire - the dominant state for all of Europe, northern Africa. It was the only state formation that owned all the lands of the Mediterranean coast, which cannot but impress.
The period of the Roman Empire dates back to 27 AD. e., when the Julio-Claudian dynasty came to power, the founder of which is considered the famous Julius Caesar. The main significant events that are reflected in historical documents, works of art that popularize Ancient Rome during the heyday and subsequent fall, date back to this time.
An interesting fact about Julius Caesar, who, contrary to popular belief, was not the first emperor of Rome, but its dictator, is that back in 63 BC. e. he was chosen supreme pontiff, i.e. occupied the highest priestly position, later from 440 AD. e. who became known as the Pope in the Catholic Church, which replaced the polytheism of pagan Rome.
Gladiator fights in ancient Rome
No matter how high the moral foundations of any society, the authorities always try to give bread and circuses to the democratic majority within the necessary limits. Otherwise, conspiracies, uprisings, revolutions will definitely begin, absolutely not needed by the ruling class. From public executions to humorous TV shows, all means are good.
In ancient Rome, athletic competitions, horse racing in stadiums were excellent entertainment for the crowd; gladiator fights, arranged in specially equipped halls, buildings - amphitheatres. The latter were introduced officially as public spectacles in 106 BC. e., and the state took care of their implementation.
The most grandiose building for bloody fights between people, predatory animals was the Colosseum in Rome:
- The colossus of ancient architecture, which got its name because of its size, accommodated, according to modern estimates, more than 50 thousand spectators. Although the historical records mention 87 thousand enthusiastic visitors who wanted to see the bloody battles.
- The construction of the huge amphitheater, which lasted eight years, was completed in 80 AD. e. Huge amounts of money were invested in it.
- The external dimensions of the building, built in the form of an ellipse, are striking - 524 by 188 m, the inner arena - 86 by 54 m. The height of the walls reaches 50 m.
- This is the fruit of the efforts of the imperial Flavian dynasty from Vespasian to Titus, who ruled in those years. The latter consecrated the Colosseum, after which games began in it, including gladiator fights beloved by all the Roman people.
The decline of the popularity of the Colosseum came in 405, when gladiator fights were banned throughout the Roman Empire, as contrary to Christian morality. Nowadays, the Colosseum is easily recognizable, the undisputed symbol of Rome, one of the most frequently visited tourist sites in Europe.
Foundations of Civilization
Interesting historical facts about Ancient Rome that give an idea of the impact it had on the fate of the whole world:
- Roman law. One of the origins of the modern legal system, a subject studied in law schools. The basic principle of Roman law is that the state is the result of an agreement between citizens. Sounds relevant today.
- Newspapers, bound pages of books, the Julian calendar are a significant contribution to the future of the human community.
- The official language of Ancient Rome is Latin, without knowledge of which it is difficult to imagine modern doctors, lawyers, and biologists.
- Field surgery, which saved many lives of the legionnaires of Rome, is still relevant today.
- Architecture. Some solutions and their embodiments, including perfectly preserved ones, still amaze the imagination. For example, the famous Pantheon in Rome, which has a dome with a diameter of more than 43 m, was built in 126 AD. e. Looking at it, it is hard to imagine that such a grandiose building could stand for many centuries, despite the fall of Rome, numerous wars, barbarians of all times and peoples, earthquakes, which are not uncommon in Italy.
- A lot of engineering solutions, both borrowed from the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and invented in Ancient Rome. For example, mills driven by a water wheel, throwing siege and defensive military equipment.
- Solutions in the field of construction. Until now, aqueducts, built even before our era, regularly supply water to the cities of Italy.
Fountains, of which there are a huge number in Rome, the use of concrete, roads that do not need to be repaired every year, are only a small part of the heritage of the ancient Romans.
Capital of Christendom
The famous phrase attributed to Henry I of Navarre, who renounced Protestantism in favor of Catholicism, that Paris is worth a Mass, refers to Rome to a much greater extent:
- After all, on the lands of this ancient state, which included Jerusalem, all the biblical events related to Jesus Christ took place.
- In Rome is the state of the Vatican with the Holy See of the Pope - the head of the Catholic Church.
- The concept of the Roman Mass appeared here in the first centuries of our era with the advent of Christianity.
Without belittling the importance of the Protestant, Orthodox Church, it was the Catholic Church that was both the decisive factor in the inexorable spread of Christianity throughout the world and served to exalt Ancient Rome.
However, even today the church of St. Peter, the Vatican Museums, numerous Catholic churches in the Eternal City work like a powerful electromagnet that attracts iron filings - pilgrims, tourists from all over the world who are ready to spend a lot of money to bow to Christian shrines, to see the historical, architectural beauty, unusualness of Rome.
Interesting facts about Ancient Rome will interest people who like unusual and fascinating information. This state hides many secrets in itself. Legends about him are both true and fictional. Historical facts about Ancient Rome are not only what they tell in school. Many of them are unknown to anyone.
1. The history of modern Rome lasts for about 3000 years.
2. In 625 BC, the first settlements appeared in Rome.
3. In the 5th millennium BC, the first mention of Rome appeared.
4. On its territory, Rome has another sovereign state - the Vatican.
5. It was customary in ancient Rome to hang phallic symbols on the front doors.
6. Ancient Roman doctors had a wide variety of medical instruments.
7. The first shopping center was built by the Roman emperor Trajan.
8. The snake in Rome is a symbol of love and prosperity.
9. Unique Roman clothing is the toga.
11. When a Roman emperor died, an eagle was released into the wild.
12. About 5,000 animals were killed in the arena on the opening day of the Colosseum.
13. 17 years after the invasion of Hannibal, the Romans were able to free themselves.
14. The virgins who maintained the sacred fire of Vesta were women.
15. Throughout their empire until the fourth century AD, the Romans built about 54,000 kilometers of roads.
16. Abortions and the use of contraception were common in the Roman Empire.
17. In honor of the Roman emperor Augustus, the month of August was named.
18. They built the Colosseum for more than 12 years.
19. It takes only 3 minutes for all the spectators to leave the Colosseum.
20. Incense smelled in ancient Roman temples.
21. Long names in Rome consisted of three parts.
22. On average, the ancient Romans weighed about 50 kilograms.
23. The average age of life of the Romans did not exceed 41 years.
24. For a month, on average, up to 100 gladiators died at the Colosseum.
25. About 114 public toilets were in Ancient Rome.
27. For disobedience in Rome, a brother could punish his sister by having sex with her.
28. Only the Roman emperor Claudius did not have love affairs with men.
29. Only wealthy Romans lived in mansions.
30. A curly-haired boy was used as table napkins in ancient Rome.
31. In Rome, some women drank turpentine.
32. It was from the Roman Empire that the tradition of the wedding kiss came to us.
33. Prostitution in ancient Rome was a legal profession.
34. To pay for the services of prostitutes in Rome, there were special coins.
35. In honor of the god Saturn, an annual festival was held in Rome.
36. The title "Coins" was worn by the Roman goddess "Juno".
37. In Rome there was a coin depicting sexual intercourse.
38. Ancient Rome is considered one of the largest states of antiquity.
39. Bloody spectacles were loved by the inhabitants of ancient Rome.
40. Once in Rome war was declared against the god Neptune.
41. The famous Roman commander - Gaius Julius Caesar.
42. Warriors from the Roman troops lived in tents of 10 people.
43. More than 40% of the total population were Roman slaves.
44. The Colosseum could accommodate more than 200,000 spectators.
45. Toilets were first created in ancient Rome.
46. A quarter of a million spectators could accommodate a Roman hippodrome.
47. In ancient Rome, lead was used to resolve disputes.
48. In 64 there was a great fire in Rome.
49. The phrase “money does not smell” came from Ancient Rome.
50. Flamingo tongue was considered a delicacy at Roman feasts.
51. Verminus - the god who protected cows from worms.
52. In ancient Rome, girls who were under the age of majority obeyed their father.
53. Most of the Roman emperors were bisexual.
54. Caesar had a passive relationship with Nicomedes.
55. A washcloth on a stick was used as toilet paper.
56. Slaves were almost never used as guards in Rome.
57. They wiped their hands on the hair of boys in ancient Rome.
58. In ancient Rome, agreements were sealed with a kiss.
59. The guardian gods in Rome were the Penates.
60. Messalina - Roman prostitute.
61. Roman prostitutes used heels.
62. Tokens were used to pay for the services of Roman prostitutes.
63. Same-sex relationships were common in ancient Rome.
64. Frank frescoes of an erotic nature were painted on the walls of many Roman houses.
65. The favorite dish of the Romans was asparagus.
66. In ancient Rome, only boys were required to attend school.
67. Honey could pay taxes in Ancient Rome.
68. The Romans invented concrete.
69. Special platforms were created in ancient Rome to discuss religion and politics.
70. Milk was used as a cosmetic product in Rome.
71. It was customary to give salt in ancient Rome as a sign of friendship.
72. Roman emperor Nero married one of the slaves.
73. The hooked nose was considered in Rome to be a great mental potential.
74. Elephant dung in ancient Rome was used as a contraceptive.
75. The blood of a defeated warrior was collected and used for medicinal purposes.
76. Exclusively with hands in ancient Rome, they ate any dishes.
77. In ancient Rome, a man who took an oath put his hand to the scrotum as a sign of an oath.
78. Gladiator fights in ancient Rome came from Greece.
79. Ancient Rome was founded by shepherds.
80. Rome reached its largest territories during the reign of Emperor Trajan.
81. In ancient Rome, noble deer could be harnessed to the chariot.
82. Eating woodpecker meat was considered a sin in ancient Rome.
83. Reclining spruce in ancient Rome.
84. More than 6,500,000 kilometers was the area of Rome in 117.
85. It was forbidden to gouge out the eyes during gladiator fights.
86. Roman women were not allowed to go outside with their heads uncovered.
87. The Romans always left their houses only with their right foot.
88. Removable heads were a statue in Ancient Rome.
89. "Flavian Amphitheater" is the ancient name of the Roman Colosseum.
90. In 80 BC, the Colosseum was built.
91. More than 44 meters was the total height of the Roman Colosseum.
92. There were 76 exits in the Roman Colosseum.
93. According to the social status of the audience, places in the Roman Colosseum were distributed.
94. Underground chambers were under the floor of the Roman Colosseum.
95. The Roman Colosseum is depicted on the five-cent euro coin.
96. Courtesans were the pinnacle of prosperity for paid love in Ancient Rome.
97. Girls in ancient Rome studied at home.
98. Most of the houses in ancient Rome were built of concrete.
99. The Roman emperor Caesar began to go bald early.
100. There were no eating utensils in Ancient Rome.
