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Dispelling Some Myths: “Those who are about to die salute you”
Dispelling the TV and film myth that gladiators in the Roman arena hailed the emperor with the word "Those who are about to die salute you!"
Tastes Of History
Mar 14

Horrible History: did Roman slaves hand-feed their masters?
Found on the website Twinkl, “ Ten short facts about the Romans ” was posted on December 8th, 2020 by unknown author possibly based in...
Tastes Of History
Oct 9, 2024

Dispelling Some Myths: Crucifixion
Crucifixion?...Good. Out of the door. Line on the left. One cross each. Next... Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which...
Tastes Of History
Mar 31, 2024

On This Day: Io Saturnalia!
On This Day, December 17th, the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia began. Held in honour of the deity Saturnus, as its name implies,...
Tastes Of History
Dec 17, 2023

Food History: A Roman soldier’s diet
The diet of a Roman soldier consisted of wheat, rations of smoked bacon or fresh meat (when available, usually pork), vegetables,...
Tastes Of History
Nov 29, 2023

Dispelling Some Myths: Was yellow the colour of prostitution?
Over the years we have periodically encountered claims that prostitutes in the Roman Iron Age and then later in the Mediæval period wore...
Tastes Of History
Nov 22, 2023

Dispelling Some Myths: Romans, Railways and NASA rockets
Yet another urban myth re-appeared on social media the other day, one which regularly does the rounds and has done so for many years...
Tastes Of History
Oct 14, 2023

Dispelling Some Myths: Vomitorium
Dispelling the myths about ancient Roman 'vomitoria'.
Tastes Of History
Jul 12, 2023

Dispelling Some Myths: Romans knew about bacteria
‘ 10 modern things the Romans had ’ is a YouTube video created and hosted by Raffaello Urbani, who is otherwise known as ‘Metatron’. His...
Tastes Of History
May 17, 2023

Horrible History Costume: The ‘Hollywood’ Toga
Introduction What follows was inspired by a @HistoryFilmClub tweet shown right. Like many who responded, naming just one historical...
Tastes Of History
Mar 29, 2023

On This Day: Caesar Murdered!
March 15th, 44 BC: Gaius Julius Caesar is stabbed to death. Idibus Martiis (‘the Ides of March’, 44 BC) should have been an unremarkable...
Tastes Of History
Mar 15, 2023

How To: Dress as a Roman soldier Part Three
This ‘How To:’ series is aimed at the general reader or an individual wishing to portray a Roman legionary or auxiliary as accurately as...
Tastes Of History
Mar 6, 2023

How To: Dress as a Roman soldier Part Two
This ‘How To:’ series is aimed at the general reader or an individual wishing to portray a Roman legionary or auxiliary as accurately as...
Tastes Of History
Feb 24, 2023

Dispelling Some Myths: Roman Cheshire Cheese
The BBC’s Bargain Hunt has struck again. On this occasion the claim was made that Cheshire cheese was made by the Romans. That was news...
Tastes Of History
Feb 10, 2023

How To: Dress as a Roman soldier Part One
Where to start? If we accept that Rome was founded in 753 BC and that the eastern half of the Empire did not collapse until...
Tastes Of History
Jan 23, 2023

How To: Dress as an ancient Roman
This ‘How To:' guide is a follow up on a previous one aimed at readers wishing to recreate simple yet effective ancient Greek costume....
Tastes Of History
Jan 17, 2023

Rome's 'Secret Agents'
There is a tendency to attribute modern structures, ranks and roles to descriptions of the ancient Roman army (Latin: exercitus). Such...
Tastes Of History
Aug 8, 2022

Mithras versus Christ: a Centuries Old Dispute?
Introduction The background to the eastern mystery cult of Mithras was outlined in 'Mithras Sol Invicti: an Initiates Guide'. With the...
Tastes Of History
Jul 18, 2022

Kitchenalia: Roman soldier's cookware
In an earlier article, we challenged the idea that Roman soldiers cooked farinata, a type of unleavened bread made from chickpea flour,...
Tastes Of History
Jul 2, 2022

Dispelling Some Myths: Romans cleaned their teeth with Urine
While teaching primary school children about the Romans, and specifically hygiene, we have encountered the belief that they cleaned their...
Tastes Of History
Jun 6, 2022
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