BLOGGING THE VIEW: The Founding of Rome: 5 fun facts about this historical empire

There are so many legends and myths surrounding the founding of Rome, which was believed to have been established on this day in 753BC.

So much of our culture, infrastructure, and traditions emanate from this notable empire, so it’s worth taking a look at where it all began. Here are some facts to consider about the Roman Empire.

Fact 1: Founding fathers

Roman mythology is expansive with revered figures still featured in our culture and language today. It is believed that the Roman Empire was founded by Romulus, a man who eventually went on to kill his twin brother Remus.

Legend has it that Romulus and Remus were the sons of a king’s daughter Rhea, who was impregnated by Mars, the god of war. In typical regal tradition, she was instructed to drown the babies so there was no competition for the throne, but the boys survived and were found by a she-wolf who suckled and raised them.

Fact 2: Interesting attire

Our modern dress-up for Romans is generally a bedsheet, but this comes from the historical fact that all Roman men – well free men anyway – had to wear a toga as a sign of their Roman citizenship. Women would wear something similar which was known as a stola.

Fact 3: Charitable donations

The ancient Trevi Fountain that is found in Rome today is an important contributor to the city’s charity. Throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain is considered good luck, and considering the vast number of tourists who visit every year, it’s no surprise that quite a sum is collected. In fact around 3 000 Euros are said to be collected each night, with all the proceeds donated to Caritas, a Catholic charity that assists the city’s families in need.

Fact 4: Free to roam in Rome

If you visit Rome, you might be surprised to see a number of cats wandering the streets, curled up comfortably in historical monuments such as the ruins of the Forum or the walls of the Colosseum.

The reason there are so many friendly felines welcoming you to the city is that Rome has a law in place that allows cats to live wherever they were born, without disturbance. For those with allergies, don’t forget to pack your medication on the next trip!

Fact 5: Gallant gladiators

For many of us, the word ‘gladiator’ immediately brings images of Russel Crowe to mind, and while gladiator fights did involve a lot of bloodshed, they rarely fought to the death.

Gladiators were considered celebrities, but this didn’t make life that much easier, with the final battle believed to be fought in 435AD. Throughout the time of gladiators, it’s believed that more than half a million people and a million wild animals were killed for sport.

SOURCES: www.livitaly.com, www.history.com.

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