This eternal city is full of mysteries and curiosities. Here, we reveal 7 of these unusual facts
A Pyramid in Rome
The Pyramid of Cayo Cestio is a mausoleum with a square base of 30 meters wide and a height of 36.40 meters high that was built for the magistrate who gives it its name.
This pyramid dates from the year 12 BC, and in the 3rd century AD, it was integrated as part of the 19 kilometers of Aureliana wall. It was built to defend Rome from barbarian invasions.
Currently, the mausoleum gives its name to an avenue that is in front of it, on the other side of the Porta San Paolo, the Viale Della Piramide Cestia. It also has a metro stop, Piramide.
Capitoline Museums
Located in two palaces on the sides of the Plaza del Campidoglio, these museums have the honor of being the oldest public museums in the world. The collection of Roman art pieces started with a selection of bronzes donated by Pope Sixtus IV is divided between the Palace of Conservatives and the New Palace. Among other notable works, there is Capitoline Wolf.
Egyptian Obelisks
The Italian capital has at least 8 obelisks that were brought from Egypt and distributed throughout the city. From the one in the center of St. Peter’s Square, which comes from the Alexandria Forum, to which the Bernini-carved elephant and known as the Pulcino Della Minerva stands on its back.
They all belonged to the templar complexes of ancient Egypt.
The Romans Drank the Blood of the Gladiators
After an arduous fight, the winning gladiator drank the blood of his opponent. At that time, it was believed that the gladiator would receive ‘the life force’ from death. Some Roman authors report that the fighters collected the blood of fallen men and then sold it as medicine. The Romans believed that blood could cure epilepsy.
The Color Purple Was Only For The Rich
It is known that this culture judged the appearance. Therefore, people who dressed in yellowish or grey coffee was because their clothes came from natural sheep wool. It means that they were poor citizens.
Instead, those who wore red, violet or green, it was because they brought expensive dyes from abroad, which meant they had enormous wealth. The Romans who wore purple were considered as ‘the maximum’.
Roman Women Dyed Their Hair
Yes, it was true! Initially, a woman with dyed hair symbolized elegance. However, the third wife of Emperor Claudius, Messalina, made the use of colored wigs fashionable. Since then, some women of the nobility were characterized by having different colored hair than the original.
They Didn’t Use Soap
Although the Romans bathed daily, they did not use soap. Instead, they rubbed with oils and then removed the dirt using special brushes.
