A superstitious Society Compare to modern society, the Romans seem extremely superstitious. But then today’s major religions have all throughout their past discouraged, even combatted, superstitions. Also our sciences and our technological world allows little room for superstition. The Romans lived in an era previous to this. Their world was full of unexplained phenomena, darkness …
Prayer and Sacrifice in Ancient Rome In the Roman mind, there was a sort of contract between the gods and the mortals. As part of this agreement each side would provide as well as receive services. Thee role of the mortal in this partnership with the gods was to worship the mighty gods. For this …
Flavius Valentinianus(AD 321 – AD 375) Valentinian was born in AD 321 in Pannonia. His father was a certain Gratianus who came from Cibalae in Pannonia. The young Valentinian received a good education, even receiving training in painting and sculpture, arts for which he was to display much talent. After a military career he came …
Romulus Augustus, often remembered as the last Roman emperor of the Western Roman Empire, stands as a significant figure in the annals of history. His reign, though brief, symbolizes the end of an era in ancient Rome. Unlike the long reigns of many emperors before him, Romulus Augustus’ time as emperor was short-lived, but his …
Julius Nepos (Died AD 480) Julius Nepos was the son of Nepotianus, who had been ‘Master of Soldiers’ in the reign of Avitus. Furthermore, his mother was the sister of Marcellinus, the arch-enemy of Ricimer and commander of Dalmatia. After the death of Marcellinus (most likely due to a plot by Ricimer), Julius Nepos in …
Reign AD 473 – AD 474 Following the death of Olybrius there was a period of about four months during which there was no emperor in the west, sole rule therefore falling to Leo, emperor of the east. Leo struggled to find a suitable candidate. Hence in AD 473 Gundobad, who held the powerful position …