7 Interesting Facts About The Roman Empire You May Not Know
From the founding of ancient Rome to the expansion and fall of the Roman Empire, the impact of this civilization on the history of mankind was so intense that to this day we can see the reflection of its influence on endless aspects of contemporary life. Among the many areas that benefited from the legacy left by the ancient Romans, we can mention architecture, engineering, medicine, types of government, law, arts, language, etc.
Below you can check out some curiosities about the Roman Empire - gathered by the Discovery News website - that you may not know about and, in some cases, are even part of our culture:
1 - Rioting Supporters
The amphitheater that can still be seen in Pompeii is among the ancient Roman buildings that survived the passage of time. Like its larger “brother”, the Colosseum in Rome, the arena is designed to safely accommodate large crowds during large sporting events.
However, according to historical records, by that time there were already fights beyond quarrelsome, and in AD 59 such confusion occurred between the local "team" and visitors, that the established punishment was to ban events in the Pompeii arena for several years. .
2 - There was heating
Rome was famous for its public baths and hot springs, and many of the wealthier houses had a heating system called the "hypocaust." Thus, the floors of the buildings were raised on pillars, and the floor space was insulated with the use of ceramic tiles. Then hot air from furnaces or fires was directed into this sealed chamber and circulated through the houses through perforated bricks on the walls.
3 - Togas were not mere sheets
Although today they are very common in costume parties, togas could not be worn by anyone in ancient Rome. They could only be worn by Roman citizens, and the patterns and colors they presented had specific meanings, corresponding to certain hierarchies of society at the time. In addition, the togas were usually made of wool and were semicircular in shape, and were folded and rolled following a complex system.
4 - Lingerie
Do not think that the Romans are naked under their togas. Both men and women wore a piece of clothing called a subligaculum that was worn as a "sex plug ." This prop was usually made of wool or linen, although there were also more exquisite versions made of silk.
Women sometimes also wore a kind of strapless top called mamillare or strophium, and younger girls still had the custom of "securing" their breasts firmly with soft leather bands.
5 - Damn taxes
If you are already suffering from filing your tax return this year, be aware that under the laws of ancient Rome, everything was taxable! One of the wildest examples was a urine tax, paid by merchants who bought this unusual material - which was used to enjoy leather, for example - collected from public latrines.
6 - Unconditional love of wine
Wine was a product that simply could not be missed on the table of any Roman, and was so crucial in the routine of ancient Rome that even the simplest slaves were entitled to a daily ration. Pompeii was one of the Empire's main drinking centers, and when Mount Vesuvius erupted - and buried the city - and stocks were destroyed, the effect was devastating.
Panic over the lack of drink led Roman farmers to begin replacing grain crops with vines, resulting in a lack of food. Moreover, with the overproduction of the new wineries, the Roman economy became even more unstable, leading the Emperor Domitian to forbid the creation of other vineyards.
7 - Fun
In addition to catering to the huge spectacles that took place at the Coliseum, the Romans also enjoyed playing board and dice games. In fact, even lower-class citizens participated in gambling, and among the options — usually well-structured and based on complex rules — was a sophisticated game of military strategy that echoed the appreciation of Roman culture for war and battle.
In addition to this game, experts have also been able to recreate the rules of other options backed by archaeological discoveries and historical records. Thus, more popular titles described by scholars are "The Game of Kings", "The Game of Bandits" and "The Game of Twelve Brands".
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