Ancient Rome

"Vae Victis!"

"Butcher’d to make a Roman holiday."

"Ave! Imperator, morituri te salutant."

"Hail! Emperor, those who are about to die salute you!"

"Saucius ejurat pugnam gladiator, et idem Immemor antiqui vulneris arma capit."

"The wounded gladiator forswears fighting, and yet forgetting his old wound he takes up arms again."

"Tecum prius ergo voluta Hæc animo ante tubas. Galeatum sero duelli Pœnitet."

"Think then on this before the bugles play; Once on the field, too late to shirk the fray."

"Gladiatorem in arena capere consilium."

"The gladiator is making his plans after having entered the arena."

"To anyone who asks me what ancient Rome looked like and begs me to present it to them in concrete terms, I will say, so to speak, to photograph it, I should answer the question with another question: "When?". Cicero, Seneca, Martial have handed down to us a copious mass of information on what the material aspect of Rome was; but if we collect and combine those elements, a different Rome emerges for each author. Just saying Rome, and thinking that it could be enough, is already an error in itself; and it is one of the most common errors, because there is a widespread tendency not to consider how changeable the face of Rome was, and to suppose, in a certain way, that Cicero was walking in a city very similar to the one in which, as an adult, the his son, that Rome presented the same aspect in the eyes of Horace as in the eyes of Martial. (Ugo Enrico Paoli)"

"From a small village on the Palatine, Rome became the largest metropolis of antiquity. Its first inhabitants came down to graze their herds and bury their dead in the damp and narrow valley, where the Forum later arose; after ten centuries, when Constantine moved the capital of the Empire to Byzantium, the built-up area of ​​Rome had a perimeter of almost twenty kilometers and a very numerous and dense population. The banks of the Tiber from Porta Trigemina to beyond the slopes of the Aventine towards the south were arranged through port works, in order to ensure the necessary supplies in abundance and regularly. Eleven aqueducts supplied such a quantity of water every day that it is estimated at one and a half billion litres. (Ugo Enrico Paoli)"

"Nothing is equal to you, O Rome even in your almost complete ruin; | what you were, intact, your ruins reveal | [...] The city has fallen. As I look at its ruins | and considering her state I keep repeating: Rome was. | However, neither the succession of wars nor the fires | nor could the massacres completely erase | her beauty. Much still remains, as much as was ruined; | nor is there anything that could equal what remains | nor could one rebuild what was destroyed. (Hildebert of Lavardin)"

"Rome was very glorious for the heroic actions of its Citizens, and was equally admirable to the world entirely for the order of its Laws and well-ordered government. (Francesco Eschinardi)"

"In spite [...] of all the defects of its streets and its position, Rome was such a city that it had no equal, and it produced a great impression for the immense crowd that continuously came in turns, coming from all parts of the world; for the motion, for the life that continually stirred there; for the quantity and splendor of its public establishments and , and finally for the endless extension of the city. The gaze of anyone who had then climbed to the top of the Capitoline Hill would have been almost lost in a forest of monumental buildings, palaces, monuments of every kind, which stretched out beneath his feet, occupying, several miles away, hills and valleys. Where at present a deserted region extends towards the Alban mountains, populated by ruins, ravaged by the Maremma fever , there was at that time a plain that was not at all unhealthy, entirely cultivated, crossed by roads which teemed with people. The city continually expanded in the fields, in the surrounding towns, and its suburbs gave way to new and stupendous villas, to temples, to monuments, whose roofs and marble domes shone in the sun, among the luxuriant greenery of the woods and of the gardens."

"Until the fire set by Nero, Rome was not a beautiful city in the modern sense of the word. After it had been burned by the Gauls, it was rebuilt without a pre-established plan, and as if by chance. The neighborhoods were irregular; the narrow, winding streets; the tall houses, mostly leaning against each other, and until the times of the Pyrrhic War ( eighty four years before the Christian era) the roofs of the wooden ones, contributed to making it poorer , the darker the appearance, and the city remained more or less so in the following centuries. At the court of Philip of Macedonia, one hundred and seventy-four years before the birth of Christ, the party opposed to the Romans mocked the mean appearance of the capital of Italy."

"Rome never had grandiose views such as Antioch and Alexandria, with their long, straight and wide streets, cut at right angles. Furthermore, several peculiarities of Roman domestic architecture must have brought to the architectural effect of the streets. Such were the frequent deviations of several houses from the straight line, the different heights of the various floors of the houses, the irregularity of the windows particularly in the upper floors, and finally the frequency of recesses and projections in the houses, which made the the section of the road surface."

"Unlike the Sumerian, Hellenic and Phoenician city-states, Rome did not identify itself with a nation. She was never cast into a rigid mold, as an old cliché portrays her. Founded from the beginning as a kindergarten that collected the waste of the surrounding people, it could never have generated a racist culture. He could not recognize her identity in an organic substratum. She was therefore forced to construct it artificially, as a creation of the mind. Her unity, her identity was the State, the Republic. An essentially political structure."

"The greatness of Rome [...] is not only the result of military success, but above all of the ability to hold together an Empire so quickly conquered. If it had limited itself to military success, Rome would have equaled the great Eastern Empires: the Assyrians and the Persians. Those lasted much less and left only large traces of hatred. When the Assyrian Nineveh fell the world rejoiced: the evil Empire had disappeared. When Rome fell, the world was lost. Rome left an incomparable trace compared to those ephemeral powers."

"In ancient times there were two forms of political community: the city-state and the imperial monarchy. But no city-state has become an imperial monarchy: except Rome."

"Roman civilization"

"Roman Empire"

"Rome has bequeathed us understandings of freedom and citizenship, as well as imperialist exploitation, along with today's political vocabulary from "senators" to "dictators." He has lent us his sayings — "fear the Greeks, even if they bring gifts" and "play the violin while Rome burns" and even "where there is life, there is hope". And he has evoked laughter, awe and fear to a more or less equal extent."

"At early-2nd century B.C.E., the historian Posidonius (circa. 135 B.C.E. – 50 B.C.E.), ancient Greek philosopher, geographer, and historian. noted as a characteristic feature of Roman customs the great sobriety of meals. For a long time at that time the Hellenic cities of the East and of Greece itself had adopted a very elaborate cuisine! This spread slowly in Rome and not without a little resistance. (Pierre Grimal)"

"Gourmet and gourmand, exquisite luxury at the table and sinfully elegant banquets, actual or dubious refinement up to the use of emetics: these are these, thanks to Lucullus, Apicius and Petronius, the most frequent associations that come to mind when speaking of the "food" of the Romans. This, of course, has nothing to do with the daily diet of a large part of the population, which was extremely frugal and only rarely went beyond mere subsistence. (Karl-Wilhelm Weeber)"

"The military physicians of the Roman Empire had planned the diet of legionnaires to be invincible against barbarians: cabbage against red meat, victory assured as with the magic potion of Asterix and Obelix. (Mario Pappagallo)"

"The difference in taste between us and the Romans is even more serious than it might seem if we were deceived by apparent coincidences: like us, the Romans were fond of mushrooms, but cooked them with honey; they prized the beautiful peaches, but treated them as we do with marinated eels; They had a predilection for many of the fish that are still gladly seen on the table today, but they prepared them with certain concoctions, let's say, worrying, in which a little bit of everything entered, not excluding plums and crushed apricots and a purée of quinces. If someone twists his mouth, he is wrong. It must be remembered that while the Romans preferred fresh cheese, we put a good face on Gorgonzola cheese, while acknowledging and saying that it stinks: a cheese that is buggy, and that the more you pay for and appreciate, the more wisely it has been made to kiss. The Romans wrinkled their noses at the rancid boar; We seem to spoil it if you eat it fresh, and we cook it only when it is more than shortcrust and tastes like pureed meat. "It's the taste of game," you might say; "No, it smells like a corpse," a Roman would reply. Evidently, among the many proverbs that there are, the truest and most equanimous is the one that says that all tastes are tastes and tastes are not discussed. (Ugo Enrico Paoli)"

"Ambrose Theodosius Macrobius has preserved for us the menu of an official supper offered to some priests in the time of Caesar. Here are the details: at the beginning seafood, oysters, mussels, a thrush on a bed of asparagus, a boiled chicken, chestnuts and mussel, and oyster sauce. These foods were eaten as an appetizer and accompanied by sweet wine. Then followed the first course with other seafood, sea fish, woodcocks, wild boar fillets, bird and thrush pâté. The main course included sow udders, pig's head, fish stew, ducks, hare, roast poultry. Unfortunately we don't know what the dessert was. (Pierre Grimal)"

"Emily Gowers The Loaded Table: Representations of Food in Roman Literature (Oxford University Press, C.E.1993)"

"Lascivam tota possedi nocte puellam, Cuius nequitias vincere nulla potest. Fessus miile modis illud puerile poposci: Ante preces totas primaque verba dedit. Improbius quiddam ridensque rubensque rogavi: Pollicita est nulla luxuriosa mora. Sed mihi pura fuit; tibi non erit, Aeschyle: si vis, Accipe et hoc munus conditione mala."

"I passed a whole night with a lascivious girl, whose wickedness no one could surpass. Tired of a thousand pranks, I begged that boyish favour, before my prayer was finished, my first utterance, 'twas granted. Smiling and blushing I asked for something worse, she voluptuously promised it at once. But she was chaste to me. She will not be so to you, Aeschylus: if you want it, take this boon, but she will attach a condition.Last night the soft charms of an exquisite whore Fulfilled every whim of my mind, Till, with fucking grown weary, I begged something more, One bliss that still lingered behind. My prayer was accepted; the rose in the rear Was opened to me in a minute; One rose still remained, which I asked of my dear,— 'Twas her mouth and the tongue that lay in it. She promised at once, what I asked her to do; Yet her lips were unsullied by me. They'll not, my old friend, remain virgins for you, Whose penchant exceeds e'en her fee."

"Intrasti quotiens inscriptae limina cellae, Seu puer arrisit, sive puella tibi, Contentus non es foribus veloque seraque, Secretumque iubes grandius esse tibi. Oblinitur minimae si qua est suspitio rimae Punctaque lasciva quae terebrantur acu. Nemo est tam teneri tarn sollicitique pudoris, Qui vel paedicat, Canthare, vel futuit."

"When you enter the door of the numbered room, whether a boy or a girl has attracted you, you are not content with the door and the curtain and the bolt; but you order far greater secresy for yourself. If there is a suspicion of the least crevice, it is daubed out, and so are the punctures made by a wanton's bodkin. No one, Cantharus, is so delicate and so uneasily modest who either sodomises or fucks.When Suburan dens you enter And securely bolt the door— Door whereon the painted number Marks the calling of a whore, Whether boy or girl allure you Bolt and door will not suffice, Nor the heavy hanging curtain Satisfy a mind so nice; If the smallest crack or crevice Find a place the wall within, Plugged it must be like the peep hole Punctured by the wanton's pin; Cantharus, no man's so modest, From what place or race lie comes. Who to please his passions, only Fucks or sods, or cunts or bums."

"Utere femineis complexibns, utere, Victor, Ignotuniqne sibi mentula discat opus. Flammea texuntur sponsae, iam virgo paratur, Tondebit pueros iam nova nupta tuos. Paedicare semel ciipido dabit ilia marito, Dum metuit teli volnera prima novi. Saepius hoc fieri nutrix materque vetabunt Et dicent: "Uxor, non puer, ista tibi est." Heu quantos aestus, quantos patiere labores. Si fuerit cunnus res peregrina tibi! Ergo Suburanae tironem trade magistrae. Ilia virum faciet; non bene virgo docet."

"Try, Victor, try a woman's embrace, and let your prick learn an operation now unknown to it. The veil is woven for the bride, the virgin is ready, your affiancee will now cut the hair off your slaves. She will allow her eager husband to sodomise her once, while she dreads the first wounds of an untried weapon. Her nurse and her mother will not allow this to be done oftener, and they will say she is your wife, she is not your catamite. Oh what toil, what labours will you undergo, if a cunt is strange to you ! Therefore hand over the tyro to a Suburan school mistress she will make him a man: a virgin is not a good teacher.Victor, quit your hateful life, Henceforth pledged to marriage joys, Wed the long unthought of wife, And think of making, not abusing, boys! The veil is wov'n, the maidens come. And timid hope the bride engages. Who shall soon adorn your home. And turn your long-haired slaves to dapper pages. Prepare your weapon for the sheath Where sexual fondness bids it glide, Nor in the scabbard underneath Think, as your boyish loves, t' enjoy your bride: If at first but faint resistance Meet a wrong directed aim, Her mother will compel desistance And tell you, wives and boys are not the same. Then you'll toil, with ill feigned pleasure, Through paths to your desires unknown, Nor esteem a priceless treasure. The pretty virgin rosebud scarce full blown. First then, for instruction turn To some vet'ran venal beauty, She will teach, what you should learn, A woman's wants, a loving husband's duty."

"Nuda in litore stetit ad fastidium emptoris; omnes partes corporis et inspectae et contrectatae sunt. Vultis auctionis exitum audire? vendit pirata, emit leno, excipit fornix. [...] Ita raptae pepercere piratae ut lenoni venderent; sic emit leno ut prostitueret."

"Naked she stood on the shore at the pleasure of the purchaser; every part of her body was examined and felt. Would you hear the result of the sale? The pirate sold, the pandar bought. [...] For this the pirates spared their captive, that she might be sold to a pandar; for this the pandar bought her, that he might employ her as a prostitute."

"Hic manebimus optime."

"Væ victis!"

"There were his young barbarians all at play, There was their Dacian mother—he, their sire, Butchered to make a Roman holiday."

"Let our children laugh, When Italy is free. Meanwhile proclaim A Feast, with three days' offering to the Gods! Load every shrine with tributes of glad hearts, Crown Victory's statue with triumphal wreathes, And scatter flowers about the Capitol; Hymning the praise of Jove that stays the flight. Let all the readers of our annals say Never was such a Roman holiday."

"We have no texts explaining the rites and ceremonial of the Dionysiac mysteries in the Greco-Etrusco-Roman world, although there are allusions which can often be clarified with the aid of Indian texts... By studying Shivaite rites [from India], the only ones which have continued down to our own times, the real practices of the Dionysiac rites and “mysteries” may be reconstructed."

"Mettius Curtius ab Sabinis princeps ab arce decucurrerat et effusos egerat Romanos toto quantum foro spatium est. Nec procul iam a porta Palati erat, clamitans: "Vicimus perfidos hospites, imbelles hostes; iam sciunt longe aliud esse virgines rapere, aliud pugnare cum viris." In eum haec gloriantem cum globo ferocissimorum iuvenum Romulus impetum facit. Ex equo tum forte Mettius pugnabat; eo pelli facilius fuit. Pulsum Romani persequuntur; et alia Romana acies, audacia regis accensa, fundit Sabinos. Mettius in paludem sese strepitu sequentium trepidante equo coniecit; averteratque ea res etiam Sabinos tanti periculo viri. Et ille quidem adnuentibus ac vocantibus suis favore multorum addito animo evadit: Romani Sabinique in media conualle duorum montium redintegrant proelium; sed res Romana erat superior."