The Theater of Marcellus was an open-air theater built in Rome, near the Tiber River. It was dedicated to Marcus Claudius Marcellus. Who is Marcus Claudius Marcellus? Marcus Claudius Marcellus was the nephew of Octavian (future Emperor Augustus), being the son of Octavian’s sister, Octavia Minor and her husband Gaius Claudius Marcellus. He was born […]
The Temple of Castor and Pollux is located in the Roman Forum and is dedicated to the twin half-brother Gods Castor and Pollux (or Polydeuces), collectively known as the Dioscuri or Dioskouroi. Who were Castor and Pollux? The story of Castor and Pollux is complicated, with details changing quite often throughout the centuries. It is
Part III of our series of Ancient FAQ – where we look at some popular questions regarding history and ancient civilizations. 1. Was Julius Caesar a good leader? Purely from a military perspective, yes, he was a good leader. Julius Caesar was a great battlefield tactician who was unafraid to take risks. He conquered all of
From what we know, Evocati (singular Evocatus) were veteran soldiers who had finished their term of service in the Roman army but had voluntarily re-enlisted back into the military. Every ancient civilization had its veteran group of soldiers who served for many years in the army. The Romans had these, too, but unlike many other civilizations, they could call upon
Ancient civilizations were built on strong leadership, military prowess, decisive action, and political smarts. Emperors needed a good dose of all of the above to be successful. Over the 500 years of the Roman Empire, many have worn the imperial robe. So, without further ado, here is a list of six of the best Roman emperors (not in
Below is part two of our frequently asked questions about ancient civilizations. 1. What is a pleb? A pleb, or plebeian, is the Latin word for ordinary person. More than that, it is generally used to describe someone from a lower social class. It was first used by the Romans to describe the poor citizens
This series examines some of the popular questions about ancient history and ancient civilizations. Although this topic is broad, we aim to answer some of the questions people have. Here’s the first part of our Ancient FAQ series. 1. Who killed Julius Caesar? There were at least 60-70 senators who conspired to kill Julius Caesar. This
Crime and punishment are a part of any society, with many ancient civilizations (and modern ones, for that matter) devising unique, and at times grotesque, ways of dealing with its criminals. For the Romans, one such grotesque method was the Tarpeian Rock. Located on the southern side of the Capitoline Hill, the Tarpeian Rock (Rupes Tarpeia or Saxum Tarpeium)
Continuing with our series of Roman ruins, we take a look outside Italy. We’re off to the lands of Britannia, a once-fabled land on the edge of the ancient world, filled with mystics, druids, and savage warriors—a real mysterious ancient civilization to the Romans. Let’s look at some of the Roman ruins in England. Hadrian’s Wall Perhaps one of
This is a question that gets asked from time to time. When people look back in history and ponder why the capital was moved from the capital of the known world, it can be challenging to figure out why. So, why did Constantine move the capital of the Roman Empire? There are several reasons, including
Why did Constantine move the capital of the Roman Empire? Read More »
