---
title: "40 Interesting Facts About Roman Empire"
url: https://www.kickassfacts.com/40-interesting-roman-empire-facts/
date: 2017-05-27
modified: 2017-05-28
lang: en
author: "jazz"
description: "Here are 40 interesting Roman Empire facts. 1-5 Roman Empire Facts 1. When Julius Caesar died, he left today's equivalent of about $270 to each and every Roman citizen. -..."
categories:
  - "Fact List"
  - "History"
image: https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Roman-Empire-Article.jpg
word_count: 1510
---

# 40 Interesting Facts About Roman Empire

Here are 40 interesting Roman Empire facts.

## 1-5 Roman Empire Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/julius-caesar.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/julius-caesar.jpg)

1. When Julius Caesar died, he left today's equivalent of about $270 to each and every Roman citizen. - [Source](http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/appian-juliusdeath.asp)

2. There is a surviving fantasy novel written in the 2nd century AD in Roman Syria that features explorers flying to the [moon](https://www.kickassfacts.com/30-kickass-and-interesting-facts-about-moon/), the first encounter with aliens, the interplanetary war between imperialistic celestial kingdoms, and the discovery of a continent across the [ocean](https://www.kickassfacts.com/30-interesting-facts-seas-oceans/). - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_History)

3. Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (86 CE – 161 CE) had the most peaceful reign of any ruler in antiquity. There is no record of any major events or conflicts during his 23-year reign. He was a skilled administrator and was praised by his contemporaries for his effective style of governance. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoninus_Pius)

4. Roman Emperor Caligula was told that he had "no more chance of becoming emperor than of riding a [horse](https://www.kickassfacts.com/fascinating-horse-facts/) across the Bay of Baiae". He then built a two-mile temporary floating bridge and walked his horse across. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula#Construction)

5. Roman Emperor Pertinax was murdered by his imperial bodyguard so that they could auction off the empire to the highest bidder. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pertinax)

## 6-10 Roman Empire Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Servilia.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Servilia.jpg)Image credit: en.wikipedia.org

6. While the Roman Senate was debating about possible conspirators of an attempted coup, Julius Cesar received a note. Cato, who opposed to Julius Cesar accused him of corresponding with the conspirators and demanded the letter to be read aloud. The note was a love letter from Cato's sister. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servilia_(mother_of_Brutus))

7. The Romans believed eyelashes fell out from excessive [sex](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-kickass-and-interesting-facts-about-sex/), so women would use [cosmetics](https://www.kickassfacts.com/29-interesting-cosmetic-facts/) to make their eyelashes look fuller and longer to demonstrate their chastity. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmetics_in_Ancient_Rome#Eye_makeup)

8. The Ancient Romans had a method for choosing the best puppies out of a litter which involved surrounding a litter with an oil-soaked string and setting it on fire. The mother [dog](https://www.kickassfacts.com/30-interesting-facts-dogs/) would jump over the ring of flames and rescue each puppy one by one, it was believed, in order of their merit. - [Source](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-ancient-greeks-named-their-puppies-1154943/)

9. When the Romans returned from [France](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-interesting-facts-about-france/) and [Germany](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-interesting-facts-about-germany/) with blonde slaves, some Roman women tried copying the look by dying their hair blond, only for it to fall out. Instead, the women cut off the slave's hair to use as wigs. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blond)

10. The ancient Romans possessed a herb that was so effective at the birth control that they harvested it to extinction. - [Source](http://www.sisterzeus.com/Silphio.htm)

## 11-15 Roman Empire Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/pantheon.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/pantheon.jpg)

11. The Roman Pantheon, built in 118 AD, is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. - [Source](http://www.romanconcrete.com/)

12. In the Roman empire, if people wished to commit suicide, they applied to the Senate and, if their petitions were approved, were given free hemlock. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_suicide#Classical_antiquity)

13. A Roman legionary was trained often by regular marching for 18 miles in 5 hours and then speed marching for 21 miles in 5 hours in a single day, all the while carrying a backpack of 45 pounds and armor of 20 pounds. - [Source](http://www.realmofhistory.com/2015/12/02/10-incredible-facts-about-the-roman-legionary/)

14. Boudica, a Celtic queen in 60 AD led an uprising against the Romans, razing three cities and killing 80,000 Romans. This was revenge for Rome annexing her kingdom after her husband died, flogging her publicly and ordering her daughters raped. Rome needed more than 3 legions to subdue her. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudica)

15. It was expected and socially acceptable for a freeborn Roman man to want sex with both female and male partners, as long as he took the penetrative role. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_ancient_Rome)

## 16-20 Roman Empire Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Tiberius_Gracchus.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Tiberius_Gracchus.jpg)Image credit: en.wikipedia.org

16. A Roman politician and over 300 of his supporters were beaten to death with clubs by the Roman Senate for trying to redistribute land to the poor that was illegally acquired by the wealthy land owners. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Gracchus#Death)

17. The word cereal comes from the Roman goddess Ceres, and her association with edible grains. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceres_%28mythology%29#Legacy)

18. Romans used to call Christians atheists because they didn't pay tribute to their gods. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians_in_the_Roman_Empire)

19. A young Italian in the 15th century fell into the side of a hill, discovering the remains of the Domus Aurea, an enormous Roman palace filled with art. Michaelangelo and Raphael visited this buried palace, inspiring their art, and subsequently the early Italian Renaissance. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domus_Aurea?repost=)

20. Roman Emperor Augustus witnessed a man attempt to feed a slave to lamprey eels as a punishment for breaking a cup. Augustus freed the slave and had the rest of the man's cups broken. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedius_Pollio)

## 21-25 Roman Empire Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Sarpa_salpa.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Sarpa_salpa.jpg)Image credit: en.m.wikipedia.org

21. There is a [fish](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-kickass-interesting-facts-about-fishes-part-1/) that when eaten causes severe hallucinations lasting up to 36 hours. It was a party drug during the Roman Empire. - [Source](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salema_porgy#undefined)

22. In the Roman Empire, prosecutors that brought false accusations to court and then lost, would be branded on their forehead with a K. – [Source](http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Cic.+S.+Rosc+20.57&lang=original)

23. The Roman Emperor Nero bought a young boy, married him, castrated him and dressed him up as a girl at public events. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporus)

24. Cincinnatus, a man was twice given near-absolute authority over the Roman Republic and he twice gave it up. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Quinctius_Cincinnatus)

25. Gaius Gracchus, the ancient Roman politician, had a bounty put on his head to the price of the head's weight in [gold](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-kickass-amazing-facts-about-gold/). Although the head was delivered, the prize was never paid, as it was discovered that Gaius' captor had emptied out his [brain](https://www.kickassfacts.com/30-kickass-amazing-facts-about-brain-part1/) and replaced it with molten lead. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Gracchus)

## 26-30 Roman Empire Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SHield-pattern.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SHield-pattern.jpg)Image credit: en.wikipedia.org

26. The 'Yin and Yang' symbol was actually a shield design from the late Roman Army and predates Taoist representations by almost 700 years. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notitia_Dignitatum#Depictions)

27. The first recorded utterance attributable to a native of Scotland was made when a Roman lady criticized the sexual morals of Caledonian women, and a Caledonian woman replied: "We consort openly with the best of men while you allow yourselves to be debauched in private by the worst". - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_conquest_of_Britain#Failure_to_conquer_Caledonia)

28. When Constantine, the last Roman Emperor fell to the Turks, he tore off his Imperial regalia before leading a last stand, making him difficult to identify. He was most likely buried in a mass grave with his men. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_XI_Palaiologos)

29. The whoopee cushion was invented by a 14-year old Roman Emperor, who used it frequently on guests. He was assassinated by the time he was 18. - [Source](http://focreviews.blogspot.in/2011/09/crimes-of-elagabalus-by-martjin-icks.html)

30. The Roman Empire was not the largest empire in history; it is in fact only the 28th largest empire in history. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_empires#All_empires_at_their_greatest_extent)

## 31-35 Roman Empire Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Catullus-at-Lesbias-large.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Catullus-at-Lesbias-large.jpg)Image credit: en.wikipedia.org

31. Catullus, an ancient Roman poet, wrote a poem criticizing those who considered his poems too racy, and that poem both began and ended with a line that translates to "I will sodomize you and face-f*ck you." - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catullus_16)

32. In the Roman Empire, apartment buildings were common and could be up to 9 stories high. While the upper stories were more cramped and the rent was less expensive, the lower floors were more spacious and could have running water, lavatories, and heating. – [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insula_(building))

33. Romans sometimes roasted chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a goose stuffed inside a pig stuffed inside a cow. - [Source](http://quatr.us/romans/food/richfood.htm)

34. According to moderate estimates, the Romans possibly lost over 40,000 men in a single day at the Battle of Cannae (216 BC), which may have accounted for somewhere between 5 to 10 percent of the total Roman male population during the late 3rd century BC period. - [Source](http://www.realmofhistory.com/2016/08/03/animation-overview-battle-of-cannae/)

35. Rome has an artificial hill consisting of 80 million ancient, used, olive oil amphorae. Monte Testaccio was in use by the Romans from 140 to 250 AD for disposing of these terracotta pots. - [Source](http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/monte-testaccio)

## 36-40 Roman Empire Facts

[![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Epictetus.jpg)](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Epictetus.jpg)Image credit: en.wikipedia.org

36. Ancient Roman philosophers sported different styles of beards to distinguish which school of philosophy they belonged to. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beard#The_.22philosopher.27s_beard.22)

37. The Roman senator Cato the Elder took the threat of Carthage so seriously that he would end all of his speeches, no matter the subject, with the phrase, “And, further, I think that Carthage should be destroyed.” - [Source](http://www.ancient.eu/Punic_Wars/)

38. A Roman envoy stopped the Seleucid invasion of Egypt by drawing a circle around their king and daring him to literally cross the line. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochus_IV_Epiphanes#Wars_against_Egypt)

39. In 458BC Roman farmer, Lucius Cincinnatus was named absolute dictator of Rome during crises. After achieving victory he resigned and returned power to Senate. His resignation of absolute authority is often cited as an example of outstanding leadership, serving the greater good and civic virtue. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Quinctius_Cincinnatus#Biography)

40. During a Roman Triumph, which was rare, spectacular parades commemorating the honor awarded to a victorious Roman general by the Senate, a slave would have to accompany the honored while whispering "Remember: you will die" into their ear so that they may not let the honor go to their head. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_triumph#The_vir_triumphalis)