Discovering Ancient Rome
According to legend, Rome was founded in 753 BC by twin brothers Romulus and Remus, sons of the god Mars. Over the next thousand years, it became the capital of one of the most powerful empires in history.
Emperors
Emperor Augustus - the first Roman Emperor
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Rome was not always ruled by emperors. For nearly 500 years, Rome was a republic* ruled by an elected group called a senate**.
*a state where power is held by the people or their representatives, rather than by an emperor or King. The Republic collapsed in the chaos of the civil wars. In 27BC, Julius Caesar's adopted son, Octavian (later called Augustus) reformed the state and brought peace back to the Roman world. He became the first emperor of Rome. Rome was to be ruled by emperors for the next 400 years. **council of rich noblemen who advised the Roman consuls on matters of the law, government, and administration. Members of this council were called senators. |
Mortal Combat
Most gladiators were either slaves or criminals who had been trained to fight in special schools. If they were lucky, they survived to win their freedom. Many Romans thought gladiator's way of life was glamorous. Some men even volunteered to be gladiators, and the emperor Commodus shocker Rome by fighting in the arena himself. For many of these trained fighters, however, life was brutal and short. |
Gods
Roman Facts
- The name of all our months have Roman origins: August honours the emperor Augustus, while March is named after Mars, the god of war.
- The Romans believed that a goddess of chance, called Fortuna, controlled their lives. Since she was permanently blindfolded, her decisions were made at random.
- At the colosseum in Ancient Rome, up to 5000 pairs of gladiators fought and 5000 animals could be killed during a single event.
- If rebel slaves were caught, they were crucified - nailed to a cross until they died. In a revolt led by Spartacus in 73AD 6000 slaves were crucified.
- The first living Roman to appear on a coin was Julius Caesar.
- The first ever shopping mall was built by Emperor Trajan in Rome. Arranged over several levels, it contained more than 150 shopping outlets.