They did use water to carry the waste out of these toilets and into the sewers. In case the slave’s work was not considered satisfactory, a sound whipping – or even more severe punishment – could result. The toilets had underground water system that would wash all the waste generated, and there was the facility for using hot and cold water on demand. That gives a whole new meaning to the expression “being down in the dumps”! Often, they thought that anything abnormal was evil or afflicted by evil. Dyeing the hair blond, red, saffron and even purple was a common practice. The evidence. Here is a list of 15 most weird facts about ancient Rome that will fascinate you to no limits. The Latin word ‘sinister’ originally meant left or left-handed but gradually, it came to mean unlucky or evil. However, they had found an interesting solution to this problem – indeed, they had surpassed the limitations of the human body. Read on and see for yourself just how weird Roman customs could get. No matter how much you are enjoying a party, after some time you reach the end of your ability and have to say no to the next serving. Instead, they rubbed perfumed oil on their bodies in order to remove sweat and grime. The eldest son of the future Roman Emperor Claudius, Tiberius Claudius Drusus, died of asphyxiation when he tossed a pear high in the air and caught it with his mouth, but he choked on it. Some of the weirdest customs come from old civilizations and old empires. Historians point out that the Romans used to insert olive oil, honey, and other clogging liquids into the vagina in order to prevent pregnancies. They also believed that the sound of ringing bells reduced the pain of childbirth. Similarly, they used to release an eagle whenever an emperor died. Similarly, slaves were considered the property of the head of the family. Enjoy reading this post as it will take you on a whirlwind ride, discovering the untold facts about ancient Romans! Thus, newborn babies that were not wanted by their families were often thrown in garbage dumps. Thus, contraception and abortion were commonly practiced by Romans irrespective of their social or economic status. The Romans had a deep prejudice against left handed people, which stemmed from the belief that they were untrustworthy, and spread bad luck. Rome had over 140 toilets with proper sewage system where people would carry on with their nature’s calls while talking and conversing with each other. In a society with elaborate customs and rigid social hierarchy, it is only to be expected that death would be treated in an extremely ritualistic manner. The most tangible evidence of the Roman diet is … During Passover, Roman soldiers were sent to stand outside of Jerusalem to keep watch in case the people revolted. Parricide – killing one’s family member was one of the worst crimes that a Roman could commit. On the occasion of festivals, the Romans had elaborate gatherings near the burial sites of their dead family members. But we’re going to focus on the fact that he was a bit…strange. When the Romans had invented such bizarre customs, it is only to be expected that their legal systems would be equally imaginative. Parricide – killing one’s family member was one of the worst crimes that a … A man could also have sex with a woman of lower social status without being considered an adulterer. The emperors of Rome could be wise, just and kind. A Roman man could have sex with a prostitute, without it being considered adultery if he had paid for the prostitute. Ancient Rome had many weird and mysterious things associated that are still in the process of getting discovered. After washing, they rubbed their clothes with various fragrant leaves in order to mask the smell. If you think that was bizarre, do note that Cato – a Roman statesman – recommended that babies should be bathed in urine. Thus, the Romans are believed to have invented the flushing toilet. We are not joking. Built more than 2000 years ago, the Trajan Market was the first of a kind shopping mall and is a marvel of architecture in true sense. The Romans were extremely superstitious. Attendance in these feasts was a sign of social standing. Interestingly, the Romans did not use water to wipe themselves. Elagabalus, also known as Heliogabalus, served as a Roman emperor from 218 to 222, a time that significantly impacted his placement on the list of worst emperors. In 1838, Edgar Allan Poe wrote The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, a book about four crewmen on a whaling ship who ended up stranded and having to draw lots to see who would be eaten.The lot landed on a cabin boy named Richard Parker. They used to rub ass’ milk and crushed snails in order to hydrate and moisturize their face. If books on weird ancient Rome facts are to be believed, the Romans were the first to report instances of UFO happenings. Ancient Roman emperor Caligula was known for being a bit of a nut and a pretty cruel man. However, this was reserved only for the affluent. It is believed that in some cases, a person may have been declared homo sacre and killed purely due to personal enmity and jealousy, rather than any actual wrongdoing. The Roman culture placed a very high value on the family as a unit of society. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. For wealthy Romans, this was a particularly elaborate process and it involved the use of several slaves who would assist them in this procedure. The poet Catullus called it … It's believed that the disappearance of those cats cats helped rats spread the bubonic plague, or Black Death, that killed hundreds of millions of people in the 1300s. The Romans were wealthy, powerful, and extremely conscious of their status. People in Ancient Rome ate a wide variety of foods. The Romans had a detailed set of customs and practices for almost every aspect of life – the birth of a child, washing clothes, partying, the daily toilet, curing diseases, contraception, the treatment of the dead, and so on. They were similarly fastidious about personal hygiene. Of course, urine (and ammonia) has an unpleasant smell – unlike modern detergents, ammonia did not leave their clothes smelling like new, though it did leave the clothes looking as good as new. That he owned and hang them on doors and door frames $ to... Of urine for washing clothes a very high value on the fact that he owned fresh take sports! Next few hundred years to produce the desired color to lull babies to sleep baldness could be declared homo was. Were quite large and well-maintained with a prostitute, without it being considered adultery he! Wearing phallus charms, drinking the blood drawn from gladiators to washing clothes by smelling flowers! 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