0:03
the remnants of ancient fomes may be the
0:06
most visible vestiges of the Empire yet
0:09
a myriad of lesser known facts remain
0:13
beneath the surface of this once Mighty
0:16
civilization contrary to the popular
0:19
portrayal of Roman entertainment
0:22
Gladiator fights were not the main
0:24
attraction for Roman Spectators while
0:27
the colosium home to This ferocious
0:30
battles held an impressive 50,000
0:32
Spectators it was Chariot racing that
0:36
garnered a larger audience with the
0:38
circus Maximus sitting up to a whopping
0:42
250,000 viewers while acknowledging the
0:46
advanced state of technology in Rome it
0:48
is important to remember the living
0:50
conditions where far from desirable
0:54
leading to a high child mortality rate
0:57
and a skute perception of life expect
1:00
it was common for half the children to
1:03
die before reaching the age of 10
1:05
pulling down the average life expectancy
1:08
to between 25 and 14 those fortunate
1:11
enough to cross this age threshold were
1:14
likely to enjoy a much longer life the
1:17
foundations of modern Christmas
1:19
celebrations can be traced back to the
1:24
saturnalia this pagan holiday held in
1:27
mid December was a week CL celebration
1:31
with a full stop to regular work and a
1:34
frenzy of home decoration giftgiving and
1:37
Grand parties in religious matters one
1:40
of the most intriguing elements was the
1:42
order of Vestal virgins who tended the
1:46
sacred fire and cared for Holy artifacts
1:49
as presses of the H goddess Fester these
1:54
elected girls had to serve for 30 years
1:57
remaining chased throughout their tenure
2:01
moving towards peculiar Customs Romans
2:04
considered urine a high
2:07
commodity this might seem gross today
2:10
but the Romans found multiple uses for
2:13
this bodily fluid including cleaning
2:16
animal bels and as a source of monia for
2:20
clots ancient rans also revered clasina
2:25
the goddess of sewers and Reigns
2:28
demonstrating their spiritual approach
2:30
to every aspect of life even the field
2:34
turning to economic activity the Romans
2:37
can be credited with inventing the
2:39
concept of a shopping mall as seen in
2:42
Tran's Market this sprawling complex
2:46
housed a covered markets stores and
2:49
residential apartments and it expanded
2:51
over time to include more establishments
2:56
quarters in social constructs
2:58
left-handed people had a tough time in
3:01
Rome often considered unlucky or
3:05
deceitful this Prejudice extended to the
3:08
point where wedding rings were worn on
3:10
the left hand's third finger to evade
3:13
the so-called sense associated with
3:17
left-handedness perhaps most humorously
3:20
Romans had a DY for even the most
3:23
trivial concerns such as bowel movements
3:27
cetus the Roman God of flat
3:30
was allegedly invoked for battel Relief
3:33
looking at the Warfare side the Roman
3:36
prian wars spaning an estimated 721
3:39
Years Mark the longest conflict in human
3:43
history this prolonged struggle drained
3:46
resources and caused countless
3:48
casualties only ending with the onset of
3:51
the Arab Muslim conquests around 620 ad
3:55
as a final peculiar Insight Emperor gas
3:58
culus extrav affection for his horse
4:02
incitatus bordered on the Absurd with
4:05
rumors of the horse being made a senator
4:09
and having its own marble stalls and an
4:12
ivory manger while the relics of ancient
4:15
Rome continue to all the world these
4:18
lesser known facts underscore Dev
4:20
vastness and complexity of the Empire
4:22
prompting and even deeper Fascination
4:25
for this EPO making civilization
