When it comes to Roman history, there’s certain lore about it that’s captured both on and off-screen. We gravitate to these ancient stories like moths to a flame. There’s something cool about having a warrior people with all of the tales that sound extravagant. Here are 5 wow facts about ancient Roman history.
Augustus Was a Multi-Trillionaire
Emperor Augustus (63 BC – 14 AD) was filthy rich. He had a huge inheritance from his great-uncle Julius Caesar. However, the time he took it to another level after defeating Mark Antony and Cleopatra. His personal net worth: $4.6 trillion.
Antonius Pius Oversaw a Time of Peace
For quite the battle-hungry place of Rome, there was actually an extended period time of peace. Pius’ reign (117-138 AD) saw turbulent politics, but this didn’t spill over into violence. He was credited for having a lack of scandal and military disaster. His successor, Marcus Aurelius, definitely didn’t follow that motif.
Claudius Mocked for Physical Deficiencies
Physical weakness was a no-no back in those days. His family regularly picked on him for his limo, foam at the mouth, and other small things that would stand out. Even his mother thought he was a monstrosity. Wow, a bit of a messed-up life.
Elagabalus Pranked His Guests
Eccentric is an understatement. Here’s a young emperor that loved to put whoopie cushions in his guests’ chair during dinner. Who knew whoopie cushions were a thing even back then?
The Bronze Statue of Marcus Aurelius Was Spared Destruction
Aurelius’ statue had staying power within the Christian community. The key factor was the bearded look. They thought this statue was a tribute to Constantine 1, the first Christian Roman emperor. As a result, it was spared from getting melted down and turned into something else.
