Facts about the ancient Roman emperors what you had no idea about

✨The wars with Persia lasted approximately 681 years
The wars between Rome and Persia over territory represent the longest sustained military conflict in human history. It went on from 54 BCE to 628 CE.

✨Emperor Commodus believed he was a reincarnation of Hercules
Emperor Commodus actually believed he was a reincarnation of Hercules, and even demanded that the Senate declare him a living god by addressing him as "Hercules, son of Zeus."

✨It was entertainment to see people mauled to death by wild animals
Roman arenas were packed with people watching criminals who were mauled to death by wild animals, usually lions and tigers.

✨Gladiators rarely fought to death
Gladiators were celebrities who brought in lots of money to their handlers, who didn't want to see their investments die. Therefore, they rarely fought to the death.

✨The Colosseum featured bloody naval battles
Reports suggest that the Romans would often fill the Colosseum with water and stage bloody naval battles for enormous crowds.

✨Aqueducts carried water, allowing large cities to grow
Rome itself was served by 11 aqueducts by the end of the third century, with nearly 800 km of artificial water courses in total. Cities freed people from subsistence agriculture, allowing them to indulge in art, politics, engineering and specialised crafts and industries. Constructing these systems that used gravity to move water over long distances down tiny inclines was an astounding feat.

✨Caesar never married Cleopatra
Although their relationship lasted at least 14 years and may have produced a son – tellingly called Caesarion –  Roman law only recognised marriages between two Roman citizens. He remained married to Calpurnia through this period, Romans would not have considered his relationship adulterous.

✨The Year of the Six Emperors’ was in 238 AD
Six men were recognised as emperor in the messy ending of the terrible rule of Maximinus Thrax. Two of the emperors, Gordian I and II, a father and son ruling jointly, lasted just 20 days.

✨All roads lead to Rome
The first major paved road was the Appian Way, started in the mid-fourth century BCE, linking Rome to Brindisi. The Roman roads were highly important to transport food and soldiers across the empire.