Roman Fun Facts

Via Sacra

Fun Fact: This was the main street of the Forum. Conquering generals returned to Rome down this road. The Via Sacra would be lined with screaming citizens waving branches and carrying torches. First would come a line of porters carrying chests full of stolen gold and jewels. Then a parade of exotic animals from the conquered lands (elephants, giraffes, hippos). Next came the prisoners in chains, with the captive king on a wheeled platform so the people could jeer and spit at him. Finally the conquering hero would ride in on his 4 horse chariot with rose petals strewn in his path.

House of the Vestal Virgins

Fun Fact: Vestal Virgins were chosen from noble families before they reached the age of 10 and served a 30 year term. A Vestal took a vow of chastity. If she served her term faithfully (abstaining for 30 years) she was given a huge dowry and allowed to marry. But if the Romans found any Virgin who wasn't, she was strapped to a funeral car, paraded through the streets of the Forum, taken to a crypt, given a loaf of bread and a lamp....then buried alive. Many women suffered the latter fate.

The marble floor of the Senate.

Fun Fact: The Senate was the most important political building in the Forum.

A cobblestone road in the Forum.

Fun Fact: It is mind-boggling when you think that Julius Caesar walked on these exact same basalt stones 2,000 years ago.

Arch of Titus

Fun Fact: The Romans loved to build these towering arches to commemorate their crushing victories.

Temple of Antonius Pius and Faustina.

Fun Fact: In medieval times, this temple was pillaged. Note the horizontal cuts high on the marble columns....a failed attempt by scavengers to cut through the pillars to pull them down for the precious stone. A church was built inside the temple in 1550.

Temple of Julius Caesar

Fun Fact: Julius Caesar's body was burned on this spot after his assassination. To this day, people put fresh flowers on the mound of dirt to remember a man who personified the greatness of Rome.

Ruined building.

Fun Fact: This is the only building with its original bronze doors still swinging on its ancient hinges.

Temple of Saturn.

Fun Fact: These columns framed the entrance to the forum's oldest temple. It was built in 497 B.C.

The cats of Rome.

Fun Fact: It has been said that Cleopatra introduced cats to Rome when she brought them from Egypt to give as a gift to Julius Caesar. But Julius was allergic to their fur and turned the cats out onto the streets. The cats have lived on these streets ever since those ancient times. There are thousands of homeless cats roaming the back alleys of Rome.

The Colosseum.

Fun Fact: It took 200 ox-drawn wagons shuttling back and forth every day for four years just to bring the marble stones to this site from Tivoli. It took 50,000 slaves to build it. Only a third of the Colosseum remains. Earthquakes destroyed some of it, but most was carted off as easy pre-cut stones for other buildings during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.