Curated category
Culture of ancient Rome
- Marriage in ancient RomeRomulus and his band of male immigrants approached the Sabines for conubium, the legal right to intermarriage. The Sabine neighbours rejected overtures of…
- Roman calendarThe Roman calendar began as a ten-month system credited to the legendary first king Romulus. This early year started in March and ended with December…
- Culture of ancient RomeThe city of Rome in the first century AD held a population that may well have exceeded one million people. High-end estimates suggest 3.6 million souls…
- Munera (ancient Rome)The Latin word munera means duty or obligation, a concept echoing in the English term munificence. In ancient Rome, this single word described public works…
- Romanization (cultural)Elite children from Mauretania to Gaul were taken to be raised and educated in Rome. This practice ensured that the future leaders of local communities grew…
- Parallel LivesPlutarch began writing the Parallel Lives at the start of the second century, likely around 100 AD. He was a Greek philosopher and priest serving Apollo at…
- Ludus (ancient Rome)A Roman girl sat on a wooden stool in the 1st century AD, her fingers moving knucklebones across a small table. This scene of play defined the word ludus for…
- Ancient Roman architectureThe Roman Republic began in 509 BC, marking the start of a distinct architectural journey that would eventually span centuries.
- GladiatorA gladiator was an armed combatant who fought for the entertainment of Roman crowds. They faced other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals in…
- Roman gardensThe Gardens of Lucullus on the Pincian Hill in Rome introduced the Persian garden to Europe around 60 BC. This space became a place of peace and…