True stories about ancient Rome they didn't tell you in school -

The ancient city is full of stories. Many surprising facts are still being uncovered. Click to know them.

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The myth of Romulus and Remus -

Roman legend tells of twin brothers named Romulus and Remus who were abandoned as babies in the area which later became Rome. Found and raised by a wolf, as an adult Romulus later fought and killed Remus to become the first ruler of Rome.

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The empire had serious issues with cleanliness -

Research has indicated that despite the acclaim for Roman plumbing and hygiene, Roman bathhouses and toilets served as havens for parasites.

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Urine used as mouthwash -

Romans commonly used urine to whiten their teeth, as urine contains ammonia, a common household cleaner that effectively removes stains.

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A party where roles changed -

During Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival, a role reversal between slaves and masters took place. This celebration, dedicated to the god Saturn, acknowledged the freedom of slaves and even enabled them to voice their grievances against their masters.

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Flamingo tongue was considered a delicacy -

Flamingo tongue, a favored dish among Roman emperors, was frequently enjoyed with pheasant brains, parrot fish livers, and lamprey guts.

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All roads lead to Rome -

The Appian Way, constructed in the mid-fourth century BCE, was the earliest significant paved road. It connected Rome to Brindisi and played a crucial role in facilitating the movement of food and troops within the Roman Empire.

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Emperor Caligula ordered merchant ships to form a floating bridge -

Caligula commanded numerous merchant vessels to create a floating bridge measuring three miles (five km) in length. He subsequently spent two days riding back and forth on it.

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Vestal Virgins -

A Vestal Virgin served as a priestess for the Roman goddess Vesta. They had a strong commitment to remaining chaste, and any discovery of their loss of virginity resulted in the punishment of being buried alive.

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Julius Caesar was never emperor of Rome -

Julius Caesar, a military leader and dictator, governed Rome from 49 to 44 BCE, though he was never officially classified as an emperor.

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They enjoyed their food lying down -

Romans enjoyed reclining on a couch while eating their meals with their hands, occasionally utilizing a spoon, but never resorting to a knife and fork.

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The Colosseum featured bloody naval battles -

According to ancient chronicles, the Colosseum was occasionally filled with water by the Romans to host naval battles, attracting large audiences.

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Gladiators rarely fought to the death -

Gladiators, renowned figures of fame, generated substantial earnings for their sponsors who were reluctant to witness the demise of their valuable assets. Hence, fatal fights were infrequent occurrences.

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Emperor Caracalla had his brother murdered in front of their mother -

In 211 CE, Emperor Caracalla ordered the killing of his brother Geta in the presence of their mother and prohibited her from expressing grief. Geta had been competing with Caracalla for power over the empire.

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Romans employed a shared sponge for personal hygiene -

In ancient Rome, using the toilet was a communal affair. Romans would utilize a shared sponge on a stick to cleanse themselves following defecation in public open-air toilets.

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A society with strong hierarchy structures -

During the Conflict of the Orders from 494 BCE to 287 BCE, the city was dominated by aristocrats, leaving small landowners and tradesmen with limited rights. However, the lower class emerged victorious by making labor-related demands.

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Several Roman emperors drank poison -

Certain Roman emperors intentionally consumed a substance called mithridatium on a regular basis, which contained small doses of poison. Their reasoning was that this practice would build up their immunity to poisons, in case they were targeted for assassination.

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Killing one's father was a serious crime -

Anyone convicted of murdering their father would be bound within a sack with wild creatures and thrown into a river.

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Roman sewers played a vital role in cities -

The sewer system called the Cloaca Maxima survived the Republic and Empire eras and is still in use today for drainage purposes. 

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Emperor Claudius changed the law to marry his niece -

Claudius modified Roman law to allow his marriage to Agrippina, his niece. Their union took place in 49 CE, and they became parents to the future Emperor Nero.

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Death by wild animals was deemed entertainment -

Roman arenas were filled with spectators watching criminals being attacked and killed by wild animals, commonly lions and tigers.

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Wealthy women would buy sweat from popular gladiators -

Sweat and dirt scraped from the skin of popular gladiators would be bottled and sold to women. It was believed to be an aphrodisiac and a beauty treatment.

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Romans consumed pig excrement -

During ancient times, Romans consumed a peculiar energy drink consisting of roasted pig dung soaked in vinegar. Emperor Nero himself had a fondness for this rather unorthodox beverage.

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Roman gods and goddesses -

The Romans believed in gods and goddesses who ruled over different areas of life. For example, Neptune was the god of the ocean, and they prayed to him to protect them at sea.

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Emperor Nero wed a young male and treated him as a lady -

In approximately 67 CE, Emperor Nero entered into matrimony with a young individual called Sporus, and subsequently subjected him to castration, treating him as a female. Nero addressed Sporus using the name of his deceased wife, Sabina.

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Female gladiators existed -

By the first century CE, it had become common for slaves to fight and voluntary women citizens to also engage in this violent activity.

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Roman charioteers earned a lot of money -

It is estimated by experts that, after adjusting for inflation, the fortunes of certain charioteers were up to 15 times larger than those of present-day elite athletes.

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Emperor Commodus believed he was the reincarnation of Hercules -

Emperor Commodus sincerely believed he was the rebirth of Hercules, and insisted that the Senate recognize him as a divine being, referring to him as "Hercules, son of Zeus."

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Rome had an organized military -

From its inception, Rome possessed a well-structured military force, led by Romulus, comprising 3,000 foot soldiers and 300 cavalry.

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The wars with Persia lasted approximately 681 years -

The conflicts between Rome and Persia for territory are the lengthiest military battles in history, lasting from 54 BCE to 628 CE.

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The Collapse of the Roman Empire typically refers solely to the Western Empire -

The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was established in 330 CE. Its capital, Constantinople (now Istanbul), remained intact until 1453. 

Sources: (All That's Interesting) (History) (History Hit)

See also: Secrets that airports don’t want you to know

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