Roman Empire is one of the most popularly known Empires in the history of the world. But if you don’t know much about it, worry not. For here we are presenting the interesting facts about The Roman Empire and making you familiar with it.
Image: Wikipedia
1. The Start
The ancient Roman Civilization started on the Italian Peninsula during the 8th century. Funded in 753BC by its first king, Romulus, it grew into a rich and powerful city during the next few hundred years. By AD 117 the Roman Empire included the whole of Italy, all the lands around the Mediterranean and much of Europe, including England, Wales and parts of Scotland.
Source: ngkids.co.uk, Image: pinterest
For amazing Roman Empire inspired merchandise, click below:2. Twinning
Roman legend says that Romulus had a twin brother named Remus. They were abandoned in the area which later became Rome when they were babies. A she-wolf found and raised them, but when they grew up, Romulus fought and killed Remus and became the first ruler of Rome!
Source: ngkids.co.uk, Image: wikipeida
3. Strong Army
The Romans built a huge empire and conquered new lands, thanks to their strong army. The Roman army could march up to 40 km a day! That’s not surprising since they had such a huge territory and no car.
Source: ngkids.co.uk, Image: wikipedia
4. Life Expectancy
Life expectancy in Ancient Rome was just 20-30 years. This view was propounded by Keith Hopkins in 1966.
Source: books.google.com
5. World’s Population
Even at its peak, The Roman Empire just occupied 12% of the world’s population. Militarily, the Roman Empire never controlled most of the world.
Source: gatesnotes.com
6. Largest
Though we talk so big of the Roman Empire, it was not really “big”. It was just 28th biggest Empire in the world.
Source: wikipedia
7. Not Just a Fighter
The Romans didn’t spend all their time fighting; they were amazing architects and engineers too! They built roads and walls too. Their architecture like The Colosseum Museum, The Masion Carree, Leptis Magna etc. are all very popular.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
8. Longest War
The war between Romans and Persians lasted for an unbelievable 721 years!!!! Yes, you heard it right. 721!
Source: wikipedia, Image: ancientromewar.com
9. Saturn
Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honor of the deity Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through to 23 December. During this period, the master and the slaves would switch places. The poet Catullus called it “the best of days”. Well, why wouldn’t it be? …for slaves.
Source: wikipedia, Image: ancientromefacts.com
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10. Food
The Romans liked to enjoy their food lying down on a couch while eating with their hands. They occasionally used a spoon, but they would never ever use a knife and a fork. Rich Romans liked to pamper their taste buds with exotic food, such as stork, roast parrot and even flamingo! Hungry?
Source: ngkids.co.uk, Image: ancientromefacts.com
11. Densely Populated
It was approximately 8 times more populated than the present day NYC
Source: theguardian.com
12. Toilet God
The Romans are alleged by some to have had a toilet god in the form of Crepitus, who was also the god of flatulence and was invoked if a person had diarrhoea or constipation.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
13. Sewer God
The sewer goddess, Cloacina was borrowed from Etruscan mythology and was seen as the protectoress of the Cloaca Maxima, Rome’s sewage system. She was later merged with the better-known Roman goddess, Venus and was worshiped at the Shrine of Venus Cloacina in the Roman Forum.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
14. Roman Dress
Tunics, two pieces of woolen fabric sewn together at the sides and shoulders, with openings for arms and head, were the most common clothes in Rome. Some Romans also wore togas, a kind of woolen shawl, to show how wealthy they were.
Source: wikipedia, Image: flickr
15. WTF?
Urine was used to wash clothes in those days. If it didn’t make you say the title of this point, you’re lying.
Source: classics.uwaterloo.ca
16. Lutetia
Paris was a Roman City called Lutetia. Thank God it is just plain and simple “Paris” now.
Source: wikipedia, Image: europeandesigns.co.uk
17. Atheists
Early Christians were called “atheists” by the Romans for they did not follow the ritual of paying tribute to the Pagan Gods.
Source: wikipedia
18. Horsenator?
The emperor, Gaius Caligula, made his horse a senator. Hold your horses, man!
Source: bbc.co.uk, Image: wikipedia
19. Not Worth the Salt!
A soldier’s pay, consisting in part of salt, came to be known as solarium argentum, from which we derive the word ‘salary’. A soldier’s salary was cut if he “was not worth his salt,” a phrase that came into being because the Greeks and Romans often bought slaves with salt.
Source: content.times.com
20. Beauty Secret
Hear up girls! Wanna know the secret of beautiful Roman dames? It was the sweat of the Gladiators which they used to enhance complexion and beauty. Now you know it.
Source: wikipedia, Image: historyundivided.com
21. Statue of Liberty
Wondering where did US come from in a Roman article? Well, the fact is that Lady Liberty was inspired by the Pagan Goddess, Libertas.
Source: wikipedia, Image: paroftheempire.co.in
22. The Roman Mall
Trajan’s Market, the Roman mall, is a large complex of ruins in the city of Rome, Italy, located at the opposite end to the Colosseum. The arcades in Trajan’s Market are now believed by many to be administrative offices for Emperor Trajan. The shops and apartments were built in a multi-level structure, and it is still possible to visit several levels.
Source: history.com, Image: wikipedia
23. Parricide
Poena cullei, under Roman law, was a type of death penalty imposed on a subject who had been found guilty of parricide. The punishment consisted of being sewn up in a leather sack, sometimes with an assortment of live animals, and then being thrown into water.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
24. Hallucinating Fish
No, the fish doesn’t hallucinate but it can make you if you eat it! Salema porgy, known for its hallucination “properties”, was eaten in Rome as a recreational drug.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
25. Oh Yoo-lee-us!
In ancient Rome, Julius Caesar was pronounced as YOO-lee-us KYE-sahr.
Source: ancienthistory.about.com, Image: wikipedia
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26. Same-Sex Marriage
The first Roman emperor to have married a man was Nero, who married two other males. The first was with one of Nero’s own freedmen, Pythagoras, with whom Nero took the role of the bride. Later, as a groom, Nero married Sporus, a young boy, to replace the teenage female concubine he had killed and married him in a public ceremony. A friend even gave the “bride” away as required by law.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
27. Mock Battle
The Romans once filled the Colosseum with water to perform an epic mock sea battle. Talk about the myriad ideas for entertainment. Jeez!
Source: atlasobscura.com, Image: history.rome.answers.com