Tag: Rome

Rome and Carthage

Yesterday I wrote about Athens and Sparta, last night and part of this early morning I thought better of the two extremes, we are not in a contest between Athens and Sparta. Looking at the classical period I am left thinking about Rome and Carthage. I think we are both, Carthage was founded as a col...

More on Carthage and Rome

Ancient Rome had the games to keep down insurrections, do we do the same? I would say yes, we do too have savage amusements, football, wrestling, rugby, and other contact sports. I am not saying do away with them but to the level that we put them on pedestals and glorify them. The Super Bowl was abo...

Planning for Rome and Barcelona

Back up to 2009. I was teaching English in Madrid for a summer. After an evening out, my friends helped me find and board a bus that would allegedly take me home. It was late at night and eventually I was the only passenger on the bus. After driving for some time the driver swiftly pulled over the v...

When In Rome

Iwas in Rome standing outside St. Peter’s basilica when a thought crossed my mind: Am I entering a church or a museum? I was perfectly at bliss standing in line to enter one of the most famous architecture in the world. As I wandered through its interior, the more confused I was. Can this be c...

Rome Split Into Three Empires Long Before It Split Into Two

The year 476 CE will always be associated with the Fall of Rome. It was this year that the Western Roman Empire crumbled for good, and the Roman torch passed forever to Constantinople in the East. However, Rome nearly collapsed two centuries earlier during the Crisis of the Third Century. This polit...

Romance in Rome: the time I was seduced by an Italian

After living in London for eight months, I had learned that every Great Romance starts with the phrase, “have you got a lighter?” The story of this Italian romance lasted no more than twelve hours, but it was undoubtedly a Great one. At 10pm in Rome I was sitting on the steps of a&...

How the Geese Saved Rome

In the 4th century BC, the Gauls, coming from beyond the Alps, wanted to capture the lands of the Etruscans, allies of Rome. The Romans sent three Fabius brothers to find out who these newcomers were and whether they needed to wage war against them. In the Gauls’ camp, they were spoken to by t...

I Think About Rome* All The Time

Ithink about Rome all the time. Specifically, I think about the big-budget HBO drama Rome that ran from 2005–2007. That magnificent series was a richly realized historical epic that mixed sex and violence and back-stabbing political intrigue and served as a blueprint for the mega-hit...

Carthage vs. Rome: How Carthage’s Triumph Could Have Reshaped Our World

Beneath a relentless sun, the once-great city of Carthage lay sprawled across North Africa’s arid plains. Here, history’s course shifted, rewritten by a legacy that might have been. Picture a world reshaped, not by Rome’s triumphs, but by a Carthaginian victory in the Punic Wars. S...

I Visited All The ‘Angels & Demons’ Filming Locations in Rome

The Pantheon Firstly, The Pantheon. The first mayor spot in the movie, which is where Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) wrongly goes to after he misinterprets a clue about Rafael’s Tomb. It’s a super busy spot, obviously. Sadly, I didn’t get into the Pantheon itself as the cue ...

Gladiators in the Arena: Women who braved the bloody sands of Ancient Rome

In the annals of Roman history, arenas are often portrayed as stages where intrepid men faced wild beasts and skilled gladiators dueled to the death in search of glory. However, among the layers of the past, a fascinating and often forgotten chapter reveals itself: the archaeological evidence that s...

The Best Bite of Rome

We sat on the edge of high seats, resting elbows and ales on a wine barrel that had been fashioned into a table. Pigeons cooed on the cobblestones around our feet, foraging for crumbs and shards of cracker crisp crust that rained to the ground as we bit into our sandwiches. I had to hunch over parte...

Momscape to Rome

First of all, I’m very fortunate to have a great friend beside me, like Emily. Thank you, girl! You are a treasure. She is a treasure for many reasons. The best thing I like about her is that she is not afraid to speak her truth. I’ve met with many mothers in different groups and differ...

The Lady Olimpia, AKA The Pope of Rome

Donna Olimpia Maidalchini Pomphilji was born in 1591 to a humble family in Italy. When she was fifteen, her father tried to imprison her in a convent to avoid paying a dowery. Olimpia defied him and married the wealthiest man in town. Her husband died three years later, leaving her a wealthy widow. ...

Rome Roma

Roma has been my favorite city during this trip so far. Not that the cathedrals are more pristine, food more delicious, or cobblestone streets more quintessential, compared to Lisbon, Madrid or Barcelona. The city, feels to me, a lot less pretentious, despite its gorgeousness, and she is, more gr...

5 Little-Known Facts About Nazi-Occupied Rome in WWII

During the Second World War, Italy’s position in the conflict was complicated, to say the least. The nation started off as part of the Axis powers alongside Nazi Germany and Japan, but by 1943, it switched sides and joined the Allies. The Italians began to see through the cracks of fas...

All Roads Lead to Rome

The Appian Way, or Via Appia, was one of the first highways in the world. Built at the height of the Roman Republic, it connected Rome to the less integrated south of the peninsula. Central to the functioning of the Republic, the road was given the moniker Regina Viarum, or Queen of Roads. ...

Rome’s Pulse

In the heart of Rome, amidst the timeless architecture and bustling streets, a Tochukwu found himself at a crossroads of inspiration and creativity. Tochukwu, armed with a newfound passion for street photography and a camera, embarked on a journey that would not only redefine his perspective on art ...

10 Fun and Fascinating Facts about Rome and Romans

753 B.C. saw the founding of Rome by the twin sons of Mars, the god of war, Romulus and Remus. They lived to defeat that king and found their city on the banks of the Tiber in 753 B.C. after being abandoned on the Tiber by a king of Alba Longa and rescued by a she-wolf. Rome named its f...

Emperor of Rome

Ever since I read her brilliant SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome I have considered Mary Beard to be the best possible guide to ancient Rome. Her deep knowledge of the subject, combined with her dry wit and eye for surprising detail, make her a great storyteller. And she confirms that reputa...

10 Beautiful Hidden Gems in Rome

I chose Villa Ada as first place on this list because I used to go there a lot with my family when I was a kid. Not to mention, I used to hang out a lot there when I was a teenager. Villa Ada is one of the largest parks in Rome and it’s located in the Trieste-Salario neighborhood, in the no...

How to Experience Rome Like a Local

A city like Rome is most fun when you get to experience life as the locals would. That is, a local on a sunny weekend. That is when the best version of Romans comes out. Often only one plan is made for the day as you never know where each encounter will take you, nor how much time your lunch will...

The Aqueducts of Rome: Engineering Marvels of the Ancient World

Throughout the annals of history, communities have commonly been founded in close proximity to natural water sources, often rivers, in order to secure a consistent and dependable water source. However, Ancient Romans devised a system for transporting water from its source to their cities. The ...

Why are There so Many Egyptian Obelisks in Rome?

Rome, a city steeped in history, also hosts a curious collection of Egyptian obelisks. But why are these ancient structures, of another mighty civilization, scattered across Rome? Rome’s Egyptian Fascination When Rome conquered Egypt in 30 BCE, it wasn’t just a territorial w...

Lone Traveler in Rome: The Eternal City

After experiencing my Venetian Dream and enjoying the sunsets of Florence, all roads lead me to Rome. And here I am… Yet, it seemed Rome wasn’t so happy to see me. I went to the hotel and found out this wasn’t my hotel. Seems like there are 4 hotels with the same...

7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Rome

1. The Fountains The central Trevi Fountain is one of the most famous fountains in the world. Tourists gather around its impressive carvings every single day to throw coins into the clear water and make a wish. But it’s not just the Trevi Fountain that promises a showy display of water a...

A Street Photography Love Letter to Rome

What can I possibly say about Rome that’s not been said before? It’s a city, an historical center, a place of great art and culture, and even a personal identity for many that has existed for thousands of years. It’s the home of great thinkers, philosophers, and artists for mill...

A thousand roads lead men forever to Rome

Series of small trips to Italian cities. With alternative routes and some tips. Part 1. Based on memories, pictures, and routes. Everyone who visits Rome wants to come back. I’m unsure if this is true of all Italian cities, but I’m biased because Rome is my family’s favorite ...

The Secret Name Of Rome

New theories about a mystery hundreds of years old and a secret known to few Romans that was not meant to be revealed It was 8 a.C. when the famous poet Ovid fell out of favor with the Emperor Augustus, who exiled him, without the confiscation of his goods, to Tomis (now C...

How many slaves were there in ancient Rome?

Slaves were the backbone of the economy of ancient Rome long before Rome became an Empire. Rome was a classic slave state. What was the number of slaves owned by the Romans? It is not easy to answer, if only because Rome itself was quite different at different points in its history, both in terms of...

What did Ancient Rome look like from above?

Italian architect Italo Gismondi took almost 35 years to create a detailed model of Rome during the time of Emperor Constantine (first half of the 4th century AD). Work on the plaster model of the Eternal City at a scale of 1:250 began as early as 1933 on the personal directive of Mussolini, who dec...

How did ancient Rome manage to defeat the Etruscans?

Rome had been neighboring the Etruscan tribes since its foundation. The largest Etruscan city, Veii, was only 18 kilometers from Rome. The relationship between the neighbors was tense and often led to large-scale wars, sometimes threatening the very existence of Rome. Nevertheless, in the end, only ...

10 Reasons To Visit Rome

Rome, often referred to as the “Eternal City,” is a destination that continues to captivate travelers from around the world. With its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture, there are countless reasons to visit Rome. Here are ten compelling ones: Disclaimer: Art...

The Magnificent Tapestry of Ancient Rome: A Walk through History

The annals of history recount several glorious empires that have risen and fallen. Among these, the history of ancient Rome holds a unique, timeworn allure. Stretching from 8th century BC to 5th century AD, the Roman Empire modeled the groundwork for contemporary Western civilization. With its...

A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Into Ancient Rome

By now, all my friends know how obsessed with Ancient Roman history I am — if the Hadrian necklace around my neck wasn’t a major indicator, my Facebook wall is covered in memes about Julius Caesar’s stabbing and the gayness of Ancient Greeks. I don’t see how everyone isn...

Who Was Boudicca, the Celtic Queen Who Challenged Rome?

Amidst the tapestry of history, where countless tales intertwine, emerges the silhouette of Boudicca, a queen whose spirit burned brighter than the most radiant stars. In a world dominated by the sprawling might of Rome, she was the tempest that roared from the Celtic lands, a storm of defiance a...

Lesser-Known Voices from Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was not merely a crucible of power but a for the delicate art of poetry. And amid this grand mosaic, a lyrical voice softly yet persistently, the voice of Sulpicia. The only known female poet from the era of Augustus, Sulpicia’s work provides a glimpse into the tender emotions and...

THE ‘NATURE’ OF ROME

Those of us that have visited Rome and that aspire to are by and large drawn to the great grandeur of its imperial past, its cultural richness, ecclesiastical prominence, living layers of history, its period architecture and its magnificent monuments and fountains. We as humans are of course fascina...

Aurelian: The Man Who Rose Rome

In the crisp September of 268, Emperor Gallienus found himself dining within the confines of his besieged army camp near Mediolanum, a city under siege. While his primary concern was confronting the treacherous general Aureolus, lurking beneath his visit lay a deeper purpose. The Roman Empire was...

From Auxilia to Emperor: The Rise of Thracians in Imperial Rome

Members of the equite and senatorial classes of Rome are the focus of most Ancient historians. This is because they made up the majority of political figures as well as the majority of ancient scholars themselves. Nearly every Roman Emperor prior to the second century CE belonged to these ...

A few things to know — when in Rome

We haven’t even started and we already left Italy, but there is a reason for it. The Vatican is a must see when you visit Rome and its museums are jaw-dropping. You probably heard that on the last Sunday of the month, entry to museums is free. That’s true but we’re here to save tim...

The founder of Rome, hidden inside a metaphor

The foundation of Rome is a historical mystery surrounded in metaphors, legends, and mythology. So much so that Ancient Roman historians narrate these events as legends. The most accepted tale begins with Aeneas sailing the Mediterranean to what today is Italy, after it was foretold that i...

The Street Foods Of Ancient Rome

So often when studying the food of the past, a great deal of attention is paid to what the elites ate, particularly when it comes to Ancient Rome. The food of wealthy Romans is well documented, and we even have numerous recipe books from the period to better inform our understanding of Roman cuisine...

A Light on the Heart of Rome

It is said that this scenic and theatrical effect was carefully designed at the request of Emperor Augustus himself, who wanted to be able to cross the threshold of the temple with his body completely bathed in sunlight. In reality, history shows us a somewhat more complex reality than ...

Fortuna’s Favorite Son Who Became the First Dictator of Rome

Though today he is not as famous as the likes of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, or Augustus, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, in his day, was as important a figure as any of the above-mentioned. In many regards, he was an early precursor for all of the them, serving as both an example and perhaps even as an ins...

How a triumph was celebrated in ancient Rome

The triumph was one of the oldest ceremonies in Ancient Rome. The first triumph, conducted by Romulus, the founder of Rome, is described by the Greek historian Plutarch: “Wishing to lend as much splendor as possible to the fulfillment of a vow he had made to Jupiter, and to delight the citizen...

Buried Alive: What Happened When a Vestal Virgin Broke Her Oath of Chastity in Ancient Rome

The Vestal Virgins inhabited a unique space in Roman society. They were the most prominent women in Rome, heavily revered and with privileges no other woman was given. But they also lived with extreme duties and restrictions. Their most famous restriction is obvious from their title: every Vestal wa...

Why did the ancient Greeks not withstand Rome, although they had successfully fought against the Persians before?

The first and most crucial difference is which empire and in what state attacked Greece. The Persian Empire, more precisely, the Achaemenid state, was a purely terrestrial and rather loose political entity. Having conquered vast territories (from the coast of the Indus in the east to the Aegean Sea ...

Wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome

“Marcus Aurelius really was a Roman Emperor for about 6 decades (161–180). He was a scholar who adhered to Stoicism, and reflected his view and perspectives about life in a writing called “Meditations”. Although he was a philanthropist and introduced social reforms, he did no...

From Rags to Royalty and Back: How the Son of a Former Slave Became the Emperor of Rome

The future Emperor Diocletian, originally named Diocles, grew up in Dalmatia in the territory of modern Montenegro and came from humble origins. It is believed that his father was a freedman, likely a scribe. Upon reaching the necessary age, Diocles joined the military as a common soldier and climbe...

Could Hannibal Have Destroyed Rome?

Rome waged a war of annihilation against Carthage. It was not satisfied with merely weakening its main rival in the Mediterranean region; it sought its complete disappearance. Roman politicians and military leaders understood this and acted accordingly. Hannibal also desired the destruction of Rome ...

How much did slaves cost in ancient Rome?

In Ancient Rome, slaves were a commodity with very uneven demand and supply. Unlike wine, wheat, and other products of constant demand, the price of slaves of the same quality (age, health, strength, and skills) could vary greatly, even by an order of magnitude. If the Roman Empire had conducted a v...

Travel Rome Like an Italian– First, Ditch the Fancy Heels

Walk down the jet bridge in your comfy cute style, ready for your first day in Rome. Just skip packing your Gucci python print heels on this escapade. You can look stylish wandering Rome by looking at number-two of these 12 Rome tips without looking like the goofy tourist in your wander...