Portal:Ancient Rome/Did you know

Did you know...?

Welcome to the Did you know page of the Roman Empire Portal. This is the page where interesting facts are stored and nominated to appear on the main portal page. The following guidelines apply to Did you know...? entries:

Try to find facts that are interesting and not just run of the mill information.
Make sure the fact that is used comes from a wikipedia article and not an outside source.
Finally remember to have fun nominating DYKs; don't make it a chore.

Did you know...

...That at the Roman Empire's territorial peak, it controlled approximately 5 900 000 km² (2,300,000 sq.mi.) of land surface?
...That when Caesar's troops hesitated to leave their ships for fear of the Britons, the aquilifer of the tenth legion threw himself overboard and, carrying the eagle, advanced alone against the enemy?
...That the most well paid athlete in human history, Gaius Appuleius Diocles, was an illiterate Roman Chariot racer, and earned the equivalent of $15 Billion US Dollars.

Did you know...

...That contrary to the belief of early archaeologists, many Roman sculptures were large polychrome terra-cotta images?
...That according to Suetonius, Caligula "often sent for men whom he had secretly killed, as though they were still alive, and remarked offhandedly a few days later that they must have committed suicide"?
...That Mark Antony, who avenged Julius Caesar, was killed by Julius Caesar's grand nephew (Octavian) Augustus Caesar?
...That Sulla's grave read No friend ever surpassed him in kindness, and no enemy in ill-doing?

Did you know...

...That among the Roman emperors, the period of the five good emperors was particularly notable for the peaceful method of succession, a practice that became scarce within the later days of the Empire?
...That the Pater familias of a family, had the power to sell his children into slavery?
...That Trajan was the last Roman Emperor to harry the coast of Arabia with the Roman Navy?
...That Trajan was born at Italica, in Spain and adopted by the Roman Emperor Nerva and made his heir, which entitled Trajan to call himself the son of Nerva