Writing has only been a part of the human story for the last 5,000 years. In comparison, humans began to communicate using speech some 50,000 years ago.
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Articles on Ancient Rome
Displaying 1 - 20 of 38 articles
Ancient Rome and its empire had the concept of asylum at its heart. Its legacy provided inspiration for centres of power around the world, but today outsiders are no longer welcome.
December is named for the Roman word for "tenth". So, why is it the twelfth month?
Tacitus' Annals is a powerful and darkly humorous examination of imperial Rome. Though his work was little read in the Roman world, it has influenced great thinkers such as Hobbes and Montesquieu.
As Congress and President Trump struggle to devise a coherent immigration policy along the US southern border, there are lessons from ancient history that could prove instructive.
Juvenal wrote 16 satires, divided into five books, each with their own target from decadent aristocrats to Egyptian cannibals.
Augustus's long line of high-profile admirers see him as a great statesman who brought peace to a Roman Republic long afflicted by civil wars. But how admirable was he, really?
From about age seven, Spartan children learned to fight and practise obeying orders. They also staged pretend battles. Boys and girls were trained separately.
Tapping into ancient knowledge can help us feel connected to our ancestors – but that doesn't mean we should take their advice.
The earliest surviving example of man-to-wolf transformation is found in The Epic of Gilgamesh, from around 2,100 BC. But the werewolf as we now know it first appeared in ancient Greece and Rome.
Anything is possible in the world of computers games – except women who fight, apparently.
A major exhibition of treasures from ancient Rome presents a distinctly old-fashioned tale of the empire's rise and expansion, which is out of step with contemporary scholarly thinking.
When Spartacus and 70 or so of his comrades revolted and escaped from their gladiatorial school near Capua in 73 BC, everyone imagined the matter would soon be dealt with. But his rebellion has continued to inspire political movements.
Without the scientific knowledge we have today, ancient cultures turned to myths and legends to understand celestial objects.
Erotic spells were a popular form of magic in ancient Greece and Rome. Ancient spells were often violent, brutal and without any sense of caution or remorse.
Excavations on the site of Rome's greatest natural disaster can tell us a lot about attitudes to death.
From the Temple of Heliopolis to the centre of Rome, the massive stone column has boosted the egos of several powerful men.
From phallus-shaped wind chimes to explicit erotica on lamps and cups, sex is everywhere in ancient Greek and Roman art. But our interpretations of these images say much about our own culture.
From being thrown off a cliff to being sewn into a sack with animals, ancient Rome is notorious for its cruel and unusual punishments. But we must be careful what we take as historical fact.
Though their activities were depicted alluringly in murals, the sex workers of Pompeii were slaves who lived hard lives.
Top contributors
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Senior Lecturer in Roman History, Macquarie University
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Lecturer in Classics, University of Roehampton
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Professor of Classics, University of Newcastle
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Paul Eliadis Chair of Classics and Ancient History Deputy Head of School, The University of Queensland
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Education Manager, Sydney University Museums, University of Sydney
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Lecturer in Roman Archaeology and Art, Royal Holloway
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Professor, Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of Sydney
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Lecturer in Ancient History, Cardiff University
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Professor of Science Communication and Chemistry, University of Hull
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Professor of Politics, University of Sussex
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Associate Professor of Classics, College of the Holy Cross
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Professor of Classical Studies, Brandeis University
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Senior Lecturer in Classics, Swansea University
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Lecturer, Languages and Literature of Ancient Israel, Macquarie University
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Lord Kelvin Adam Smith Research Fellow in Classics: Ancient Science & Technology, University of Glasgow
