An international research team has created a new map of the Roman Empire — and it expands the ancient road network by more than 60,000 miles (100,000 kilometers). The saying goes, of course, that “all roads lead to Rome.” But while it’s true that many of the Empire’s major cities were linked via main roads … Read more
Survivors of the volcanic eruption that destroyed Pompeii in A.D. 79 returned to the ash-covered Roman city in the centuries after the blast and lived on the upper floors of buildings, new excavations confirm. They were likely joined by opportunists and destitute people from nearby towns who came to the ruins in search of valuables … Read more
The Western Roman Empire famously ended in A.D. 476 when its last emperor abdicated the throne. But the city of Rome continued on. So what happened to the “Eternal City” after it was no longer the capital of one of the largest and most enduring empires ever seen? In the century after the empire’s fall, … Read more
The roar of the arena crowd, the bustle of the Roman forum, the grand temples, the Roman army in red with glistening shields and armor — when people imagine ancient Rome, they often think of its sights and sounds. We know less, however, about the scents of ancient Rome. We cannot, of course, go back … Read more
