Welcome to the world of Roman Empire facts! The Roman Empire was one of the largest and most powerful empires in world history, with a legacy that has had a lasting impact on the world. From its founding in 753 BCE to its eventual decline in 476 CE, the Roman Empire left an indelible mark on the world through its military conquests, impressive engineering feats, and lasting contributions to language, law, and governance. Whether you’re a history buff or just curious about ancient civilizations, you’ll find something interesting here. So, let’s dive in and explore the many fascinating facts about the Roman Empire together!
1-10 Interesting Facts About Ancient Rome
1. The Roman Empire may have been a big deal, but it was only the 28th largest-empire in history.
2 Roman rulers had a daily routine of ingesting small amounts of poison to build immunity.
3 .The Romans and Persians had a rivalry that lasted for 721 years. It was like an ancient version of “Game of Thrones,” but with fewer dragons and more chariots.
4. Roman women were so obsessed with blonde hair that they would dye their own and even wear wigs made from the chopped-off locks of blonde-haired slaves. It was a hair-raising situation!
5. During Saturnalia, the festival where masters and slaves switched places, the slaves finally got to boss their masters around for a change.
6. Early Christians were called “atheists” by Romans because they didn’t pay tribute to the pagan gods
7. Ancient Romans had gods and goddesses for every aspect of daily life, including a sewer goddess, a toilet god, and a god of excrement.
8. In Ancient Rome, urine wasn’t just for peeing. It was also used to wash clothes. Talk about recycling!
9. Romans weren’t afraid to get a little pee-ky when it came to dental hygiene, using urine to whiten their teeth.
10. In Roman times, men held their nuts as a sign of truthfulness while bearing witness in a public forum.
11-20 Awesome Facts About Ancient Rome
11. In 150 CE, Ancient Rome had less income inequality than the United States today. Who knew being a slave back then could be more equal than being an employee now?
12. Ancient Greeks and Romans would sometimes use salt as currency to buy slaves. Talk about seasoning up your workforce!
13. Most Romans treated their slaves comparatively better, using bonuses and branding to improve productivity, just like modern employers. No wonder they lasted so long.
14. Roman Gladiators were not always fighting to the death or against animals. They were more like the celebrities of their time, with many adored by their fans.
15. Roman women would wear the sweat of Gladiators to improve their beauty and complexion.
16. Ancient Romans loved their games and entertainment, but they took it to the extreme with the “Bread and Circus” policy, where they would distract the masses with free food and gladiator games to keep them from revolting.
17. Two Roman dams in Spain are still in use today, proving that their engineering was truly ahead of its time.
18. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the technology to make concrete was lost for a thousand years. It was a concrete problem!
19. Julius Caesar, was pronounced ‘YOO-lee-us KYE-sahr’ in ancient Rome.
20. Julius Caesar was such a boss that when he was kidnapped by pirates, he made them raise the ransom.
21-30 Shocking Facts About Ancient Rome
21. In Ancient Rome, women would drink turpentine to make their urine smell sweet like roses. It looks like they were taking things to the extreme for that sweet smell of success!
22. In ancient Rome, it was considered a sign of leadership to be born with a crooked nose.
23. In Ancient Rome, while suicide was socially acceptable at first, it was later deemed a crime against the state due to its economic costs. Talk about a costly decision!
24. In 117 AD, Emperor Hadrian declared attempted suicide by soldiers, and made it a capital offense. But it was irony that died more times on that day.
25. Cincinnati is named after Cincinnatus, a ruler of the Roman Empire who saved Rome from crisis and then retired to his farm rather than the rule.
26. In Ancient Rome, the punishment for killing one’s father was the death penalty, consisting of being sewn up in a sack along with a viper, a dog, and a co*k. Talk about a deadly bag of tricks!
27. Building Colosseum today would cost around US$380 million.
28. In 86 AD, the Colosseum was filled with water to stage a naval battle.
29. Vestal Virgins had to keep their hymens intact till age 30. Or else they would be buried alive.
30. The Statue of Liberty, that iconic symbol of freedom, was inspired by the Roman pagan goddess Libertas. Talk about a goddess-like inspiration!
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 30 Short facts about the Ancient Rome for Kids.
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