Questions tagged [roman-empire]
The Roman Empire was a vast empire, centred around the city of Rome, that lasted from 27 BC to 476 AD (West); 1453 AD (East).
11
votes
1answer
227 views
Is the following claim concerning the loss of classical Latin literature substantiated?
I first came across an uncommonly precise claim that "94% of classical Latin literature was lost during the transition period of late antiquity" while listening to Peter Adamson's History of ...
-3
votes
0answers
71 views
At the start of the Second Punic War, why didn't Hannibal engage Publius Scipio in Hispania, but crossed the alps instead? edited [duplicate]
Sorry, I forgot exactly where I remember this from but as Hannibal moved towards the Alps with around 50,000 troops, he was pursued by Scipio with fewer troops (actually, if anyone can find a source ...
1
vote
2answers
362 views
At the start of the Second Punic War, why didn't Hannibal engage Publius Scipio in Hispania, but crossed the alps instead?
Sorry, I forgot exactly where I remember this from but as Hannibal moved towards the Alps with around 50,000 troops, he was pursued by Scipio with fewer troops (actually, if anyone can find a source ...
3
votes
0answers
110 views
What is the latest case of employment of Cretan archers in Antiquity?
It is known that Cretan archers were widely used (presumably as mercenaries) across Mediterranean by Greek armies and were occasionally included in Roman armies of Republic and of Imperial period. I ...
-4
votes
1answer
136 views
How tall was Brutus?
Brutus was an important figure in the Roman Empire and also played a large role in Shakespeare's iconic work, Julius Caesar. After researching many different sources, I have yet to identify the height ...
1
vote
1answer
112 views
How did production of grain change with Hellenistic Egypt coming under Roman rule?
As far as I know Egypt, under the Ptolemies, became famous in Hellenistic world for vast agricultural production due to the strict and harsh administration installed there by Greeks.
Still I wonder - ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
How was Hadrian's decree banning circumcision enforced? Were there mandatory body check or something similar?
Roman Emperor Hadrian issued a decree outlawing circumcision around 132 CE, under penalty of death. I am curious as to how such a decree may be enforced, given that circumcision/castration practices ...
4
votes
1answer
216 views
Why did the baths of Bath need a hypocaust?
Bath, England has 3 natural hot springs. The Romans built a place of worship and a thermae around the springs. Why did Bath need a hypocaust if the water was already 47C hot just from the geothermal ...
5
votes
1answer
198 views
Were there any plans to install a Western Roman Emperor after Belisarius reconquered the west?
Emperor Justinian I sent his general Belisarius to the west in 535 AD to reconquer the lost provinces of the Western Roman Empire after its fall in 476 AD.
Did Justinian I have any plans to install a ...
10
votes
2answers
4k views
What Roman legions were present in London (UK)?
I have just come across an interesting article about the Romans in London (UK):
Roman eagle found by archaeologists in City of London
a Picture from the above article (just to have an idea):
My ...
17
votes
1answer
3k views
Did the Roman legions wear this type of boots?
I was looking at this drawing of a Roman soldier
(copied below)
About the boots: Is this pair of boots plausible for a Roman soldier (in any era/province of the Roman Empire)? I would like to confirm ...
9
votes
2answers
449 views
What is this war machine shown on Trajan's column?
The most comprehensive visual evidence about Roman army of I-II centuries is the Trajan column. It shows in great detail cloths, weapons, ships, military machines and other equipment of the Roman army....
-1
votes
1answer
120 views
What happened to Gordian III in the Battle of Misiche?
I read in the Wikipedia that: "Roman sources do not mention this battle (Battle of Misiche) and suggest that Gordian died far away from Misiche, at Zaitha (Qalat es Salihiyah) in northern Mesopotamia."...
-1
votes
2answers
396 views
Why Marcus Aurelius did not restore the Roman Republic? [closed]
I'm wondering why Marcus Aurelius, who could be considered as one of the most wise emperors of Roman Empire, did not restore Roman Republic constitutions? I read somewhere that the functionality of ...
1
vote
1answer
213 views
How effective were archers/ slingers / skirmishers in Greek, Roman and Medieval Period?
So it seemed that from the accounts of Thermopelea, Roman military strategy of waiting out an arrow storm, and Knights holding out for hours behind a shield wall during the first crusade it ...
1
vote
1answer
115 views
Who was a Roman General for a short time?
I'm trying to remember the name and battle that a Roman General. I might be unintentionally mixing parts of it up with other historic parts. The story goes the Roman Empire need someone to lead their ...
7
votes
2answers
381 views
Why did Odoacer choose to be king Instead of emperor?
After deposing Romulus Augustulus in 476 AD, Odoacer became the king of Italy. Why did he choose not to be the next emperor of the Roman Empire? The Roman people were still around, and the Senate ...
4
votes
2answers
158 views
What was the relation between the biblical king Herod and the Parthian king Orodes II?
What was the relation between the biblical king Herod and the Parthian king Orodes II who was named Hyrodes Anaridus on coins?
The son of Orodes II, Pacorus invaded Judea, however I could not find ...
4
votes
0answers
200 views
What evidence is there for the severity of Roman scourging before crucifixion?
Something I'm curious about is the severity of scourging ancient Romans inflicted on their victims before crucifixion.
Numerous religious/Christian websites suggest that it was quite severe, and ...
5
votes
1answer
329 views
Do we know what ancient Roman music sounded like?
I have to admit that I'm a bit of a Simon Scarrow addict, and I admire the books dedication to historical accuracy (within the confines of fiction).
Something that's mentioned in the books is music. ...
-1
votes
2answers
251 views
Did emperor Nero later regret his treatment of early Christians?
Did emperor Nero later, any time before his death, regret anything that he did to the early Christians?
Is there any evidence that documents his opinions on his actions?
7
votes
1answer
188 views
Was there a Parthian counterpart of Tacitus, Cicero, etc?
I often find myself, when learning from Roman texts, wishing to hear "the other side of the story".
Are there no Parthian historians, authors, playwrights, poets, etc, whose words have survived? And ...
5
votes
0answers
82 views
Were the Roman Empire provinces Alpes Poeninae and Alpes Graiae different provinces or the same?
There's a map I've seen that shows four separate provinces for the Alpes, including Alpes Poeninae and Alpes Graiae. However, everywhere else I've looked, I haven't been able to find any information ...
6
votes
2answers
142 views
What was the medium for Marcus Aurelius's Meditations?
I imagine Romans using papyrus and quills on a still table, allowing time for the ink to dry, which may not be possible in a battlefield. I once saw a documentary which depicts him walking off in ...
7
votes
1answer
302 views
Who first published Marcus Aurelius' Meditations?
Marcus Aurelius wrote the famous book of philosophy Meditations while on campaign in Pannonia. The writing was personal and intended for his eyes and reflections for he himself to meditate on and was ...
10
votes
1answer
404 views
Was there a Roman city in the Plain of Sarajevo?
The established modern historical/archaeological opinion seems to be that the Plain of Sarajevo in Roman times contained mainly an intersection of roads and a bath installation (e.g. Wikipedia).
But ...
52
votes
2answers
4k views
Why was the Council of Nicea held in Nicea rather than Rome or Constantinople?
The title sums it up quite nicely. At school, we refer to the 5 centres of the Christian world as being Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria. I'm only wondering if there is any ...
11
votes
3answers
580 views
What specifically did Caesar believe he would be charged with had he disbanded his army?
In Plutarch's Caesar he quotes Caesar as saying "They made this happen. They drove me to it. If I had dismissed my army, I Julius Caesar, after all my victories, would have been condemned in their law ...
1
vote
0answers
77 views
Did emperor Nero have a food taster?
After the Pisonian conspiracy, if would make sense for Nero to have someone test his food for poison before eating it. But I cannot find evidence of food tasters for Roman Emperors.
Any help would be ...
1
vote
2answers
309 views
Was Constantinople in Europe or Asia during the Eastern Roman Empire Period?
Was Constantinople in Europe or Asia during the Eastern Roman Empire Period? (not modern) Thanks!
9
votes
1answer
194 views
Was Rome exporting its trash to Egypt as an early example of recycling?
During the time that Egypt was a Roman province, it shipped large quantities of grain to Rome until 330 AD. The article Trade Routes and Commercial Products of Roman Pompeii says:
Egypt was ...
15
votes
4answers
2k views
How did Christianity replace Roman Paganism and other ancient religions?
Christianity seems to have been the first world religion that was interested in and successful with establishing itself as not only the state religion of but practically the only in an empire - namely,...
0
votes
1answer
205 views
Was the high consumption of (red) wine in Ancient Rome preventive of scurvy? [closed]
With daily consumption of wine estimated to be about 1 liter/day based on production, vitamin c requirements may be about covered. Was that a reason why these enormous consumption levels were thought ...
7
votes
1answer
329 views
Parchment and papyrus costs in Roman Empire
How much do we know of the costs of parchment and papyrus in Roman Empire? I'm especially interested in their cost ratio. So far I found some accounts for the other ends of the antiquity: in 301 a ...
3
votes
1answer
290 views
Did Roman Empire elite believe in their gods?
For example, did Julius Cesar or Augustus believe in the existence of Jupiter? Is there some consistent evidence in writings that they truly believed in the Roman gods? Or maybe they thought that the ...
6
votes
1answer
679 views
Was Roman expansion & casus belli as just as they claimed?
Every time I read about Rome conquering some other land or nation, it always says that they were the ones attacked and then won that fight. And I find it a bit too convenient and Rome's greatest ...
6
votes
2answers
636 views
Was the cingulum militare any good as protection?
Wikipedia information on the cingulum militare is sparse. It is clear that it had a decorative function and displayed rank. The metal elements and widespread use of something similar by the Greeks ...
9
votes
1answer
269 views
How and when was the Temple of Trajan destroyed?
From Wikipedia article on the Temple of Trajan in Rome:
The Temple of Trajan was a Roman temple dedicated to the emperor
Trajan and his wife Plotina after his deification by the Roman Senate.
...
20
votes
2answers
4k views
What would a Roman slave be legally required to do if his master vanished?
Say that I were a Roman slave around the time of the Empire, perhaps as someone who maintains his villa. I serve my master faithfully and then one day, without warning, he doesn't come home. The day ...
4
votes
1answer
594 views
Did the Eastern Romans also use roman concrete?
When I read about Roman concrete I understand its use was forgotten after the fall of the Roman empire. But what about the Eastern Roman empire, the Byzantine Empire? Did they still make buildings ...
2
votes
2answers
394 views
How did Romans know if their money was debased?
In many moments of Roman imperial history coin was debased, with its silver contents being reduced over time, and in general this was linked with increasing imperial expenditures. In Harper's The Fate ...
3
votes
1answer
101 views
Could equestrian prefects sit on sella curulis?
Were prefects of less than important provinces of the early principatus (like Pilate) allowed to sit on the ivory curule seat, or sella curulis, that curule magistrates and promagistrates used while ...
12
votes
1answer
356 views
Did Roman Britannia leave any impacts on English?
I was discussing French influence on English language with some other users and while on the topic of if the Latin influence on English language came exclusively from the Normans, it occurred to me ...
4
votes
2answers
676 views
What religions did Constantine convert to?
The Roman Emperor Constantine the Great was the first Emperor to legalize Christianity. He also converted to Christianity, from his deathbed. As I remember 40 years ago from theology studies ...
0
votes
2answers
170 views
What is the use of vinegar as a component in ancient ink receipes?
Quite some receipes of old (pre-iron-gall) ink seem to include vinegar. It is of pale colour though, and it may or may not be corrosive to the paper. Whats it's use?
1
vote
1answer
162 views
What kind of gas caused the end of excavations/tunneling of the “villa of the papyrii” in the 18th century?
The reason why excavations of the Villa of the papyrii in Herculaneum had to end is usually cited to be "gas invading the tunnels". That is a common problem in coal mining. However, volcanic deposits, ...
1
vote
0answers
101 views
Were there any Crypto-Olympian worshipers after 380 AD/CE? [duplicate]
In 380 AD/CE, the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius issued The Edict of Thessaloniki which nationalized Christianity within Greece, Asia Minor, Italy, as well as other parts of The Roman Empire, while also ...
4
votes
2answers
320 views
What impact did the migration of Germanic tribes have on languages in the rest of Europe?
I am currently looking for information about the migration of the Germanic tribes, and especially it's effects on European languages, or other languages.
Google Search provided me information about ...
9
votes
1answer
312 views
Did Marcus Aurelius ever deliberate about his son's succession?
I did some research on Google, and found this Reddit response, which provides some evidence for the idea that Marcus Aurelius was fond of his children and even doted on them. But nowhere in the ...
3
votes
1answer
186 views
Did the Romans hold the Isle of Wight and surrounding areas before the invasion in 43 AD?
In this video it shows the Isle of Wight and the area around it including Southampton and Portsmouth being under Roman control beginning during Julius Caesar's invasion of Britain. However my brief ...
