Bizarre But True Facts About Rome

Over the centuries Romans have had a reputation as being a very practical society. They created impressive structures, had ruthless armies, and maintained a vast empire. Although Rome may seem a rather dull and unimaginative place, it is actually filled with strange and unusual information. From ancient Roman gladiators to medical practices, here are 5 incredible facts about Rome.

1. Gladiator Blood Cure

Ancient Roman physicians would recommend gladiator blood for various ailments. It was said to be a cure for many things, including epilepsy and infertility.

2. Home of the First Shopping Mall

The Trajan Market is a two level building located in Rome. The building is large enough to hold an estimated 150 shops. However, unlike our shopping centers of today, this Roman structure has been standing for over 2,000 years.

3. Phalluses Were a Symbol of Good Luck

These symbols were often worn as charms on a necklace, created as statues, or even hung as wind chimes in doorways to help ward off any evil spirits.

4. Not All Romans Wore Togas

Togas were a male garment worn by free-born Roman men. Women typically wore a stola. However, because it was considered disgraceful for a woman to wear a toga, wearing the male garment was connected with prostitution and infidelity.

5. Cobweb Bandages

Rome was often at the forefront of modern medicine. Although some of the methods didn’t pan out, they did display incredible intuition when it came to medicinal methods. For instance, one method Roman army medics used was to bandage wounds using cobweb bandages, a mixture consisting of: cobwebs, honey, and vinegar.