The Roman Empire produced some of history’s greatest military victories, most infamous emperors, and strangest true stories. These 50 fascinating facts explore the battles, political intrigue, engineering marvels, eccentric rulers, and unforgettable moments that helped shape one of the world’s most influential civilizations.
The Line Antiochus Couldnt
1. A Roman envoy halted the Seleucid advance into Egypt by drawing a circle around Antiochus IV Epiphanes and challenging him to step over it literally.
2. The Roman Emperor Nero married two men, acting once as the bride, Pythagoras the freedman, and once as the groom.
3. As Ottoman cannons shattered the once-mighty Theodosian Walls of Constantinople, Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last Roman Emperor, took on the look of an ordinary soldier and led the few men left in one final brave charge for Rome and their home.
4. After Julius Caesar had Cato the Younger removed from the Senate for opposing him, many other senators departed too. When Caesar asked one why he was leaving, the senator replied that he would rather be imprisoned with Cato than sit in the Senate with Caesar.
5. The Roman Empire was not the biggest empire in history. It is actually only the 28th largest empire in history.
6. The Roman Empire usually steered clear of slave rowers and instead chose freemen, since they were more driven.
7. The Romans observed a festive day called Saturnalia in which the positions of master and slave were switched.
8. The term cereal comes from the Roman goddess Ceres and her link to edible grains.
9. Roman Emperor Valentinian became so enraged at Quadi envoys, who accused the Romans of causing a recent war between the two, that he burst a blood vessel in his skull and died while shouting at them.
10. Romans used to refer to Christians as atheists because they did not pay tribute to their Gods.
Ancient Dome Still Reigns
11. Built in 118 A.D., the Roman Pantheon remains the world’s largest dome made of unreinforced concrete.
12. After Emperor Nero’s wife died, he found a boy named Sporus who closely resembled her, had his testicles removed, and displayed him publicly as his wife.
13. A fish called Salema porgy can cause hallucinations when eaten, and the Roman Empire used it as a recreational drug.
14. As Julius Caesar arrived in Africa, he slipped and landed face-first. His army would have seen this as a deadly omen, but he instead cried, “Africa, I have tight hold of you!” The campaign was successful.
15. Emperor Nero took part in the Olympic Games. He performed very poorly and almost died in a chariot race, yet he was still proclaimed the winner in every event he entered.
16. Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (86 C.E. – 161 C.E.) experienced the most tranquil reign of any ruler in antiquity. There is no record of any major events or conflicts during his 23-year reign. He was a skilled administrator and was praised by his contemporaries for his effective style of governance.
17. Gaius Gracchus, the ancient Roman politician, had a reward placed on his head equal to the value of his head in gold. Although the head was delivered, the prize was never paid, because it was discovered that Gaius’ captor had removed his brain and replaced it with molten lead.
18. Roman Emperor Pertinax was killed by his own imperial bodyguards so that they could auction off the empire to the highest bidder.
19. A Roman soldier once farted, which triggered a riot and caused the deaths of 10,000 people.
20. Roman Gladiators seldom fought to the death or against animals and were regarded as celebrities of their era.
Two-Faced Month Legacy
21. January takes its name from Janus, the Roman god with two faces, one turned toward the past and the other toward the future.
22. Tic Tac Toe is a simplified form of a game known as “Nine Men’s Morris” from the Roman Empire.
23. A Roman politician called Tiberius Gracchus, along with more than 300 supporters, was clubbed to death by the Roman Senate for attempting to redistribute land to the poor that had been illegally taken by wealthy landowners.
24. A Roman legionary recruit trained by walking 18 miles in 5 hours and then speed marching 21 miles in 5 hours on the same day, while carrying a 45 pound backpack and 20 pounds of armor.
25. At Julius Caesar’s death, he left the modern equivalent of about $270 to every Roman citizen.
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