During my latest library jaunt I picked up a copy of The Mammoth Book of Useless Information by Noel Botham. Some of the useless information relates to Romans, and since hubby and I are off to Europe later this year, I thought this would make a good TT topic.
Thirteen Useless Facts about Romans
1. Romans used to believe that walnuts could cure head ailments, since their shape was similar to that of a brain.
2. In Ancient Rome, the law stated that prostitutes were to either dye their hair blonde or wear a blonde wig to separate themselves from the respectable brunette female citizens of Rome.
3. Wealth Romans, both men and women, would have all their body hair plucked, including pubic hair.
4. Slaves generally came from conquered peoples, but even a free man unable to pay back his debts could be sold into slavery.
5. One Roman ‘cure’ for stomach ache was to wash your feet and then drink the water.
6. The Romans were the first to create sculptures that actually resembled the people they were supposed to portray.
7. In ancient Rome, it was considered a sign of leadership to be born with a crooked nose.
8. The ancient city of Rome was on the site of the present city of Rome.
9. They invented numerals that are still used today.
10. Capital punishment was often carried out in the amphitheatre as part of the morning entertainment. Condemned criminals faced wild animals without the benefit of weapons and armor, or had to fight other prisoners to death with swords (also without armor)
11. Rome’s Circus Maximus was the biggest stadium, with seating for 250,000, and was used mainly for chariot racing.
12. Some Roman dishes were very exotic and included teats from a sow’s udder, or lamb’s womb stuffed with sausage meet.
13. Asparagus was a prized delicacy in ancient Rome and was rushed by chariot to the Alps, where it was deep frozen for six months to last until the Feast of Epicurius – God of Edible Delicacies.
Do you think you’d like to live in Ancient Rome?
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