Antoninus Pius was born Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus in 87AD and was Emperor of the Roman Empire from 138 – 161AD. His rule is universally recognised as one of peace and prosperity. When Emperor Hadrian’s adopted son Verus died, he adopted Antoninus Pius as his son. In turn, Antoninus Pius adopted the future Emperor Marcus Aurelius. When Emperor Hadrian died, Antoninus showed such piety that he earned the name “pius.” When his wife, Faustina, died in late 140 he founded the Puellae Faustinianae, a charitable institution for the daughters of the poor, in her memory During his 23-year…
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Attribution: lyceo_hispanico 76 – 138 Relationship People Children Antoninus Pius Associated Marcus Aurelius, Plutarch On the day after the death of Roman emperor Trajan, Publius Aelius Hadrianus was revealed to be his adopted son. Although Hadrian was related to Trajan on his father’s side, and had been groomed for succession by Trajan in a number of military campaigns and civil posts, his accession was not universally approved. Dissent within the senate quickly led to the executions of four senators accused of plotting treason. Trajan’s reign of warfare and territorial expansion saw Rome grow to its greatest extent. In contrast, Hadrian’s reign was one of peace and…
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Attribution: xerxespersepolis 39 – 81 Relationship People Parents Vespasian Siblings Domitian Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Titus was born in 39AD and died in 81AD He reigned only briefly as Roman Emperor for the last two years of his life and was the second emperor of the Flavian dynasty. Before he became Emperor, Titus gained renown as a military commander. The Arch of Titus commemorates his victory in quelling the Jewish rebellion in 70AD where he destroyed the city and Temple of Jerusalem. His building programme included the Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. He was thought of…
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What Have the Etruscans Ever Done for us? “What have the Romans ever done for us?” is a classic question from Monty Python’s Life of Brian (and possibly my favourite Roman-related screen moment of all time). But the Romans too could have asked themselves: “What have the Etruscans ever done for us?” The list would be almost as long as the one reeled off to the irascible John Cleese: language, architecture, engineering, gods, rituals – and much more – were all handed down in one shape or form to the Romans from their Etruscan ancestors. But despite the Etruscans’ advanced…
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Attribution: 24 Sep 15 – 22 Dec 69 Key Dates Emperor Vitellius reigned from 16 April 69 to 22 December of the same year. Aulus Vitellius’s reign as Roman Emperor was short-lived. Having succeeded emperors Galba and Otho, Vitellius was met with extreme challenge by legions intent on making Vespasian emperor in his place. Vitellius began his political career as Consul in 48, and in 68 he was selected to command the army of Germania Inferior. The personal and professional connections he made while commander eventually led to his promotion to Emperor. Though he was recognised as the emperor by…
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Before you answer that question, let me just point out that Monte Testaccio is actually both, being possibly the oldest Roman rubbish dump to have been excavated and studied in depth. Admittedly an open-air land fill site might not fit in with your idea of a cultural tourist destination and it probably won’t tick the boxes if you’re thinking about glamorous ruins where emperors and senators once set out the course of history. But this pile of old rubbish, as I affectionately like to call it, can tell us a surprising amount about the inner workings of the Roman empire.…
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24 Oct 51 – 96 Emperor Titus Flavius Domitian was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 81-96 AD. He was the last emperor of the Flavian Dynasty and the son of former emperor Vespasian (69-79). He inherited the throne form his brother Titus, who ruled the Roman Empire from 79-81 AD. Domitian was known primarily for his attempt to strengthen the economy by revaluing Roman coinage. He also expanded the border control of the Empire and sought to rebuild Rome. Domitian saw himself in the great tradition of Augustus, and he hoped to help inaugurate the empire into a new…
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In Need of a Protection Racket? Ostia Antica is like any other town – it has streets, shops, houses. Even a theatre and a fire station. The crucial difference is that no one has lived here for almost two millennia. Many of the buildings have lost their roofs, and protection from the elements is minimal – which means there is little to halt the gradual process of dilapidation that has been going on in Ostia for many centuries. Two-thousand-year old mosaics are exposed to the elements while the ruins of ancient shops and cellars are at risk of flooding. It’s…