It is so old, it is today known as ‘the eternal city’. The Romans believed that their city was founded in the year 753 BC. Modern historians though believe it was the year 625 BC. Rome knew four classes of people. This division was very important to the Romans. There were other traditions that all Romans shared. Whatever their individual circumstances, all Romans observed certain practices at dinner time, the main meal of the day. Although they might eat very different food, they ate it in roughly the same way.
And Romans of all classes made a point of visiting the baths after work each day. There they would mix freely with their fellow citizens, exercising, washing and chatting. To citizens, the baths made them feel superior to the rest of the world – they made them feel Roman. Radicalized violence Radicalized, public violence had been a favorite entertainment of the Romans for centuries. The practice began as an ancient Etruscan funeral ritual: when a tribal hive died, his warriors would make a blood sacrifice to his spirit by fighting to the death by his tomb.
This ritual was adapted over time. The nobility began to put on gladiatorial exhibitions in memory of the dead and by the time Julius Caesar was in charge, these exhibitions had become public spectacles. Organized games The games took place in amphitheaters. Gladiators would be sent to the arena – named after the sand which covered the ground and soaked up the blood – to fight to the death before cheering crowds of thousands. As the contests became more organized, gladiators became more specialized. There were five types of gladiator, each with their own unique weapons.
The Mineralizes were heavily armed and wore helmets decorated with fish, while the Thracian carried Just a shield and scimitar, making them much quicker on their feet. The Retail were armed with Just a net, a long trident and a dagger, and the Examines had a sword, an oblong shield and a helmet with a visor. Finally, the Bestiaries fought wild animals. Spirits of the rivers and trees Rivers, trees, fields and buildings each had their own spirit, or menu. Worshipping more than one menu, or mania, was a part of early Roman culture.
Household spirits Every Roman household also had its own protective spirits. For instance, Vests was the goddess of the fireplace. Even food cupboards had their own spirits, called pennants. Family spirits Families also had a protective spirit, called a lard. Each family had a alarum, or shrine, to this spirit, often kept in the atrium or courtyard. The head of the family – the paterfamilias – was responsible for making regular sacrifices to honor the family parity and make sure that it continued to watch over them.
