Roman Empire

The Search Is On For Caligula’s Orgy Boats Caligula’s Where His Twisted Fantasies May Have Been Played Out

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– The Search Is On For Caligula’s Orgy Boats Caligula’s Where His Twisted Fantasies May Have Been Played Out:

Caligula ruled as Roman Emperor for just four years from 37 to 41 AD, but tales of the cruelties issuing from his diseased mind have made him one of the most famous ancient Romans. Some of the mad emperor’s atrocities may have played out on barges on a placid volcanic lake in the Alban Hills, 20 miles southeast of Rome.

Now some Italian researchers are interested in trying to salvage rumored remnants of one of Caligula’s famous orgy vessels, possibly sunk in Lake Nemi. If it’s found, it would be a huge discovery.

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H/t kevin a.

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Currency Reform In Ancient Rome

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Nerobama

thetrib

– Currency reform in Ancient Rome (Adam Smith Institute, Aug 19, 2014):

In the Western world, modern civilizations are often thought of in comparison to those of the ancient world. The Roman Empire is typically the first considered, and arguably the most natural reference point owing to its many achievements, complexity and durability. It stands in history, widely considered the high water mark of the ancient world; one against which contemporary political, economic and social questions can be posed. Much of the world is still living with the consequences of Roman policy choices in a very real sense, in matters ranging from the location of cities to commercial and legal practices to customs.

The global economic downturn of 2008, in particular its monetary facet, readily invites comparison between the troubles of the modern world and those of the Roman Empire; just as Western currencies have declined precipitously in value since their commodity backing was removed in stages starting roughly a century ago, Roman currencies were also troubled, and present a cautionary tale.

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Roman Emperor Hadrian’s Villa Tunnels Explored As Cavers Drop Down Into Hidden City

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Amateur cavers map network of passages built by Roman emperor at Tivoli to keep slaves, oxen and victuals below stairs


One of the ‘service’ tunnels beneath Hadrian’s Villa, built in the 2nd century as an imperial escape from Rome. Photograph: Marco Placidi

– Hadrian’s villa tunnels explored as cavers drop down into hidden city (Guardian Aug 20, 2013):

Amateur cavers have mapped a vast network of tunnels underneath Hadrian’s Villa outside Rome, leading archaeologists to radically revise their views of one of ancient Rome’s most imposing imperial retreats.

Lowering themselves through light shafts found in fields around the 120-hectare (296-acre) site, local speleologists have charted more than a mile of road tunnels – passages where, in the second century, oxen pulled carts loaded with luxury foods for banquets and thousands of slaves scurried from palace to palace, well out of sight of the emperor.

“These tunnels lead us to understand that Hadrian’s Villa was organised less like a villa and more like a city,” said Benedetta Adembri, the director of the site, who is planning, in the autumn, to open stretches of the tunnels to the public for the first time.

Never an emperor to do things by half – his idea of homeland security was to build a wall across the top of England – Hadrian built his country hideaway near modern-day Tivoli to escape the noise and crowds of Rome, but managed to take half the city with him.

Archaeologists have identified 30 buildings, including palaces, thermal baths, a theatre and libraries, as well as gardens and dozens of fountains.

“We think the villa covered up to 250 hectares but we still don’t know the limits,” said Abembri.

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