Buzz
For centuries, Rome was the unrivaled empire, dominating the world with its power. The Roman Empire, a true force of nature, brought nations together in a way that has never been replicated. While much is known about the lavish lifestyles of its elite and rulers, the everyday lives of the various classes and citizens are less often explored. Thanks to numerous discoveries, we now gain a glimpse into the lives of the diverse people who lived during this era.
10. Parasites Were Shockingly Widespread
Rome boasted impressive sanitation systems by ancient standards, though they mainly served to improve the city's odor. According to 2,000-year-old fecal matter discovered at various historical sites, parasites were even more prevalent among Romans than in earlier, supposedly less hygienic times like the Bronze or Iron Ages.
Although many Romans enjoyed access to clean food and water, it was the bathwater that became the primary culprit for parasitic infestations. The water was kept lukewarm and rarely changed, creating an ideal environment for parasites. Combined with the use of human feces as fertilizer, these conditions led to widespread outbreaks.
9. Romans Consumed Food Like Animals
While Ancient Rome is often imagined as a time of lavish indulgence, complete with extravagant feasts of rare delicacies, such pleasures were reserved for the upper class. The majority of Romans, however, consumed a diet centered around cheap grains like millet, which was considered fit only for livestock, meaning most Romans literally ate like animals.
Despite its proximity to the seas, lower-class Romans ate very little fish. Instead, they relied heavily on wheat and millet, leading to health issues like anemia and poor dental hygiene. The diet of city dwellers was relatively better, but the further one lived from the city, the worse their food choices became.
8. Ancient Rome Faced Significant Air Pollution
Climatologists studying ice cores from Greenland can track methane levels in the atmosphere over centuries. Methane remained at natural levels until 100 BC, after which it spiked and stayed elevated until AD 1600. This increase in methane coincided with the rise of the Roman Empire, and when the empire reached its peak, so did its methane emissions.
During this era, global methane emissions reached around 31 million tons per year, just 5 million shy of the current emissions of the entire United States. The vast empire required enormous quantities of livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats. Combined with population growth in both the Roman Empire in the West and the Chinese empire in the East, this led to widespread pollution during the time.
7. Roman Wrestling Was Rigged
In many countries, wrestling for entertainment is often manipulated, a practice that dates back to Ancient Rome. A papyrus from AD 267, discovered in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, is the earliest known bribery contract for sports, where one wrestler agreed to lose a match for 3,800 drachmas—enough to buy a donkey. Though this sum was relatively modest, the competition was meant to be a grand spectacle on the Nile, suggesting that similar deals were likely common among other wrestlers.
Bribery in Roman sports was not uncommon, but the consequences were severe. It is believed that the fines collected for such offenses were used to fund statues of Zeus in Olympia. The Greek sophist Philostratus once expressed his dismay over the state of athletics, lamenting that trainers “care nothing for the reputation of the athletes but instead advise them on buying and selling for their own benefit.”
6. The Gruesome Spectacles of the Colosseum
The origins of Roman gladiator games trace back to 247 BC, when two brothers commemorated their father's legacy by hosting a fight between their slaves. Over time, the games grew more extravagant and eventually took a darker turn, becoming even more disturbing to cater to the twisted tastes of the Roman crowd.
Beginning with the notorious Caligula and later the infamous bestiarius Carpophorus, the gladiator games evolved into a gruesome display of human brutality and animal cruelty. Bestiarii were responsible for training animals for these spectacles, such as teaching an eagle to devour the exposed organs of a writhing fighter. Carpophorus, the most famous of these trainers, not only conditioned beasts to kill in the most horrific ways possible but also fought alongside them. However, the most shocking act he trained his animals to perform was to rape human prisoners on command, purely to elicit shock and awe from the audience in the Colosseum.
5. Gladiator-Inspired Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are widely consumed by modern athletes due to their supposed performance-boosting qualities. These drinks are also popular in the fitness world, but the use of such beverages isn't a recent trend. Gladiator energy drinks were consumed long before the creation of the first Gatorade.
These drinks were believed to contain plant ash, a potent source of calcium known to support bone growth. Higher levels of calcium are often found in the remains of gladiators, making this theory plausible. What would this drink have tasted like? Given it was made from nothing but ash and water, it would have been extremely bitter. However, adding vinegar could have made it much more palatable.
4. Ancient Writings on Learning Latin
While most of the Roman Empire likely spoke Greek or its various dialects, there were resources available for those wanting to speak Latin: colliquia. These textbooks not only helped Greek speakers learn Latin, but they also provided guidance on a range of situations and the proper ways to handle them.
Two portions of the original manuscripts, dating from the second and sixth centuries, remain. These texts covered scenarios such as one’s first visit to the public baths, what to do if one arrives late to school, and how to manage a drunk close relative. These texts were widely available, accessible to both the rich and the poor. It’s believed that these situations were designed for role-playing exercises, allowing students to practice and experience the material firsthand.
3. The Romans’ Techniques in Building Rome
In 2014, archaeologists began digging up what was believed to be the Temple of Fortuna, thought to be the first temple the Romans ever constructed. Although the temple is documented to have been built in the seventh century, the landscape had significantly changed over time. The temple, described as being located by the Tiber River, was discovered over 30 meters (100 ft) away and several feet below the water table. More surprises were uncovered, revealing that the early Romans went to extraordinary lengths to create the ideal city.
The Romans were compelled to level hills, fill in swampy areas, and even reroute the city’s original waterways as construction expanded outward. They understood that in order to build the city and accommodate future growth, they needed to transform the natural environment to serve their needs. The advanced engineering and ingenuity required to execute these changes is still remarkable today, especially considering that the city eventually became the crown jewel of the Western world, proving the early efforts were well worth it.
2. Infanticide in Ancient Rome
As shocking as it might seem today, infanticide was a widespread practice in ancient Rome. Before the advent of more effective contraception, women had the legal right to dispose of their children if they chose. While boys were generally preferred over girls, archaeological evidence suggests that both boys and girls were killed in roughly equal numbers.
Ancient Roman writings even mention the practice of infanticide, revealing that newborns were not highly valued in Roman society. In fact, babies were not considered fully human at birth. A child was only regarded as truly human once they reached certain milestones, such as being named, teething, or eating solid foods.
1. Roman Taverns
In Lattara, a significant historical site in France, a 2,000-year-old Roman tavern was uncovered, still containing animal bones and the bowls once used by its patrons. This establishment likely functioned as a lively social hub between 175–75 BC, coinciding with the Roman army's conquest of the region. The tavern served drinks and provided meals, including flatbreads, fish, and premium cuts of sheep and cattle.
The kitchen featured three large ovens at one end and millstones for grinding flour at the other. In the serving area, there was a spacious fireplace and reclining seats, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere—just the kind of ambiance we would expect in a modern bar.
+Further Reading
Ancient Rome offers a captivating subject for study. From its rise to its eventual decline (with striking parallels to some of today’s modern social issues), it continues to provide valuable insights, history, and wonder. Here are a few more lists exploring similar themes from the past:
10 Truly Disgusting Facts About Ancient Roman Life 10 Fascinating Facts About The Ancient Roman Army 10 Little-Known Aspects Of Ancient Roman Family Life 10 Lesser-Known Ancient Roman Traditions 10 Little-Known Facts About the Ancient Romans
