Ancient Rome ‑ Facts, Location & Timeline

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Roman Forum

Forum’s Early History According to a widely accepted legend, ancient Rome was founded by brothers Romulus and Remus in 753 B.C. After a rising conflict, Romulus killed Remus, became king and named Rome after himself. The traditional story also credits Romulus with starting an alliance with his rival, Titus Tatius, and making the site of […]

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall is the remains of stone fortifications built by the Roman Empire following its conquest of Britain in the second century A.D. The original structure stretched more than 70 miles across the northern English countryside from the River Tyne near the city of Newcastle and the North Sea, west to the Irish Sea.

Mark Antony

The Roman politician and general Mark Antony (83–30 B.C.), or Marcus Antonius, was an ally of Julius Caesar and the main rival of his successor Octavian (later Augustus). With them, he was integral to Rome’s transition from republic to empire.

Saturnalia

What Is Saturnalia? Saturnalia, the most popular holiday on the ancient Roman calendar, derived from older farming‑related rituals of midwinter and the winter solstice, especially the practice of offering gifts or sacrifices to the gods during the winter sowing season. The pagan celebration of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time, began as a […]

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Games in the Colosseum

The Roman Colosseum was an engineering marvel designed to seat close to 75,000 people.

Coroner’s Report: Pompeii

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. obliterated the Roman city of Pompeii, burying it under tons of volcanic ash. While many of its resident fled to safety, what happened to those who dared to stay behind?

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