r/ancientrome

If the design is good enough, why change it?

If I were Nero, I would quickly have several children with Claudia Octavia, and then hand over all state affairs to my mother Agrippina and my teacher Seneca, and then follow Tiberius and retire to an island or live in Greece, spending my days eating, drinking, and enjoying life. If you know you are incapable, why insist on forcibly governing politics? It would be better to simply go on a happy vacation instead. At that time, Rome was still very powerful and could fully afford to allow me to do so. At that time, People also believed that only a member of the Caesar family could become the emperor, which is why Claudius was able to become the emperor.

Some people might say that being an emperor is very difficult, but in the period when Nero lived, it was not actually that hard to be an emperor. It was precisely because of this that he had the leisure and opportunity to get involved in all kinds of chaotic and messy affairs.

Even Valentinian III, who ruled during a turbulent period, was able to remain emperor for thirty years because he was willing to let Flavius Aetius and his mother Galla Placidia manage the affairs of the state. When he no longer allowed others to govern the state on his behalf, he was finished within just two years.

It is important to recognize one’s own mediocrity and incompetence. Because of my position, I know I have no choice but to become emperor, but I also know I am not capable of it. If I know I am incompetent, then doing nothing would be the best choice.

The Roman temple of the Capitoline Triad in Brescia, Italy that was built in 73 AD by the Emperor Vespasian on top of an earlier Republican temple. This is a UNESCO world heritage site.

fat was one of the most important food sources, especially salted and preserved pork fat. It was eaten by spreading it on bread or by boiling it, and it provided the necessary calories. It was also ideal for quick nourishment on the battlefield or in enemy territory. Other common foods included bread made from grains and olive oil. Fat was essential.

Legions near the Mediterranean also consumed plenty of green lentils, but for someone stationed on the German frontier or in the middle of Gaul, such foods were a luxury.

The villa had been reconstructed with a small museum explaining the background. Like many limes-frontier villae in raetia it was destroyed during the attack in 233.

It seems the local museum was not interested or already hat too many. Do you think they are real? It seemed almost too good to be true.

Ring 1

* Bronze with oval carnelian intaglio
* 1st–3rd century AD (approximately 1,700–2,000 years old)
* Stylized intaglio depicting a bird or insect motif

Ring 2

* Bronze with oval carnelian intaglio
* 1st–3rd century AD (approximately 1,700–2,000 years old)
* Carnelian intaglio depicting Serapis

Both rings were used as personal seals to stamp wax on documents and goods.

It’s incredible to think these everyday objects were worn by Romans nearly 2,000 years ago.

A Roman carnelian gemstone with an engraving of Asclepius and Hygeia (male and female deities of health). There is an inscription that looks like it has the Greek letters HEIOΛ although the museum’s description didn’t mention it. This dates to 60-50 BC, was set into a modern gold ring and is on display in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria.

Just curious