Ten ancient Rome facts, figures and features you never knew you needed to know. |
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| British Museum exhibit. Photo by Cath. |
Take wind chimes. Bronze chimes like these were hung in gardens and porticoes to chime softly in the wind, exactly as they are used today. They differed from today's wind chimes in that the design most popular then would be likely to cause some controversy today : the bells and phallus combined were believed both to keep off evil spirits and to bring good luck to the household - the larger, the better.
And then there were candles. Candles have been used for thousands of years but those we know today count as one of the key ancient Roman inventions because the people of the Empire were the first to use wicks. Tallow, an extract from cattle and sheep, was melted until liquid and poured over fibres of flax, hemp, or cotton which acted as the wick. These candles were used in ancient Roman daily life for religious ceremonies and as lighting for travel and homes. The major problem with early candles was that tallow did not burn cleanly so they both smelled and smoked badly.
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| Photo taken at the British Museum by Cath. |
Children's education was conducted mainly by their parents with the emphasis on moral rather than intellectual development. Writings from ancient Roman daily life tell us that the most important virtues for a child were reverence for the gods, respect for the law, unquestioning obedience to authority, truthfulness, and self-reliance.
To those it seems it would be apt to add potty training. This potty dates from the 6th Century B.C. and, judging by the expression on the toddler's face, was not terribly comfortable!
Ancient Roman Daily Life Fact Number 7 :
In the modern world of massive technological advancement, Ancient Roman Pantheon architecture is still a world record beater.
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Although an inspiration for many other world famous domes it surpasses them all : it is two feet wider than the dome of St Peters' Basilica, three feet wider than the dome of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence and a massive thirty-two feet bigger than the dome of St Paul's Cathedral in London. The 'eye' at its centre is the only source of light in the building.
And here are some more incredible ancient Rome facts related to Pantheon architecture. The date stamped on many of its bricks mean we know the Pantheon was built as early as 27 B.C. and rebuilt in 123 A.D., but despite such early construction it was created entirely without steel reinforcing rods and with what we would think of now as inadequate tools and unsafe means of lifting the heavy materials.
How this dome was built under such circumstances has been the source of great speculation. It is likely that one ring of concrete, built like a low wall, was laid on another slightly larger ring, the cement allowed to set and strengthen in order to support the next upper ring. The circular part of the upper dome was probably placed by using wooden scaffolding. The whole process of building the dome alone is thought to have taken somewhere in the region of four years.
Yet another triumph for the ancient Roman Empire.
Ancient Roman Daily Life Fact Number 8 :
The ancient Romans were the originators of Odeon Cinemas.
Ever heard of the Odeon Leicester Square? If you are interested in films you certainly will have - it has hosted countless royal galas, star-studded premieres and for the last four years has been home to the BAFTA awards ceremony. In Hollywood the Odeon is so well respected that it is referred to as "The Cathedral".
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| Remains of Odeon at Pompeii |
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| Model of actors wearing masks.Photo taken by Cath, at British Museum. |
Preferring both excitement and laughter, plays about war were always popular but above all Romans enjoyed comedy - the lewder the better. Because of the drunkenness, obscenity, adultery and semi-naked dances on stage actors, highly respected in Greece, were held in utter contempt in ancient Roman daily life. By the end of the Roman Empire a particular type of mime drama had begun to emerge whereby one actor played many parts wearing masks to indicate mood, while a chorus narrated or told the story.
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| Terracotta mask. Photo taken by Cath at British Museum. |
Nero, Emperor of Rome, considered himself a virtuoso in - amongst other things - music, acting and literary activity. He regularly performed in the Odeum; those who watched him thought his performances fairly poor; indeed many people are reported to have fallen asleep during his appearances.
His answer to that was to kill his audience if they did not display the appropriate level of attention and enthusiasm. Nero's own death was marked above all by the statement, "Qualis artifex pereo," (What an artist dies in me.)
The people of ancient Rome begged to differ.
So the Italian culture, traditions and customs of celebrating the arts in street theatre, music and dance began in ancient Roman daily life. Ancient Roman entertainment may have been frowned upon by the state who were concerned about their culture declining into sloth and decadence but certainly the lower classes attended in their hordes and did not seem overly concerned with their own moral decline.
Ancient Roman Daily Life Fact Number 9 :
Ancient Roman maps show that the Romans used postcodes.
Modern maps of Rome, as might be expected of a large urban area, show it divided into twenty-two districts and like the structure of many cities its formation is an echo of its past as a large Roman military settlement.
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As the city expanded and evolved Emperor Octavianus Augustus increased the regions. According to this second map, ancient Rome had by then expanded and was divided into fourteen to include urban areas built outside the original walls. Those districts were used for administrative purposes and like the Paris 'Arondissements' of today were referred to both by name and by number. Ancient Roman maps tell us that this organization of the city remained in place for several centuries.
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The best district to live in was Region X, the Palatine, which at twenty-five acres of opulent homes for Emperors was the heart of Imperial Rome. Romulus, the founder of Rome, lived there as did Cicero, Pompey and Mark Anthony.
The less salubrious districts were Region IV, the Subura valley, and XIV, the Transtiberim. This was the area to the west of the river and home to most of the immigrant population of Rome. To this day still numbered as district XIV and known as the Trastevere, its name taken directly from the Latin origin, this is now one of the most popular of Rome's current twenty-two districts. Its unique character continues to attract foreign expatriates and artists; faithful to its origins in ancient Roman daily life it remains open to influences from outside but retains its deeply Roman character.
Ancient Roman Daily Life Fact Number 10 :
Ancient Roman flags were the football logos of their day.
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| Stone carving of an early standard : this one has an eagle at the top. |
Each part of the ancient Roman army had its own ensign. The large unit or legion had a specific symbol; each cohort within the legion had its own; and each minor division of each cohort also had its own emblem, generally inscribed with the number of the cohort and of the century. Their purpose was simple : to act as a rallying point and make it easier for each soldier to see exactly where he should be standing.
Those symbols began as a rigid motif, often a carved animal, mounted on a metal or wooden pole. We know from both the graffiti of ancient Roman daily life and the writings of Pliny that there were originally five such animals : the wolf, horse, wild boar, minotaur and eagle, and that others based on astrological signs also became popular : the bull, capricorn, and lion. Each emblem was a symbol of strength, power and good fortune.
Legions raised by Caesar originally carried a bull emblem ; those of Augustus mostly a capricorn but by far the most popular of the emblems, and even now recognised as a symbol of the power of the Roman Empire, was that of the eagle. Shortly before the Christian era it was decreed that the eagle alone be retained as the sole standard at the head of every legion and so it became the standard of the Roman Empire and is still recognised as such today.
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| Replica of an early Roman flag. |
The fabric flags we know now were developed when squares of cloth attached to spears were draped over a general's tent to signify readiness for battle. The fabric would thenbe draped over the standards for decoration and in time were carried separately into battle.
As the power of the Roman Empire grew the standards themselves became amongst the most important symbols of power in ancient Roman daily life; the sight of them alone would cause fear amongst the enemies. |
"The religious system of the Roman army is entirely devoted to the worship of the standards"
Consider the almost religious devotion with which soccer fans now follow their club and wear their colours. Yet again, modern culture mirrors ancient Roman daily life.
Where to go to learn more about ancient Roman facts :
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- This one is my favourite :
The British Museum, London, U.K. - Contains a wealth of exhibits related to ancient Roman culture and everyday life. Its sheer size can be quite overwhelming - make sure you get a plan of the building at the information desk by the entrance.
The staff here are particularly good with children and will actually allow them to touch some of the exhibits usually behind glass. There are also free explanatory tours of the exhibits - keep an eye out for the posters and signs around the halls.
The book shop at the Museum has a wide range of books on ancient Rome including some good children's books and the gift shop sells replicas of some exhibits, particularly ancient Roman jewelry.
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Naples, Italy
- Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome, Italy
- Museo della Civiltà Romana, Rome.
- The Roman Forum, Rome.
- San Antonio Museum of Art, Texas, U.S.
Have a look at the first five fascinating facts about
ancient Roman daily life.
Here are some fascinating facts about the Colosseum in Rome.
More facts about ancient Italian culture.
Ancient Roman daily life to our home page.
All images on this page, unless otherwise specified, are courtesy of the VRoma.com project.
