9 myths about the Roman Empire that should have disappeared long ago

Myth 1. Roman soldiers used to tie their cloaks to their nipple rings.

On the Internet, you can find statements that nipple piercing was popular among Roman legionnaires. Jewelry on these parts of the body was supposedly a sign of masculinity. And especially distinguished citizens even clung raincoats to rings on their bodies.

Most likely, thanks to this myth, in the Netflix series Barbarians, Roman officers attached their cloaks to the rings cast on anatomical armor. Well, at least not on your own chest - and thanks for that.

The very myth of such an extravagant custom appeared thanks to piercing fan Doug Malloy, who wrote the article Body and Genital Piercing Summary in the 70s.

In it, he filed under the guise of facts a lot of fiction, which later became urban legends. For example, Doug also claimed that Prince Albert invented the penis piercing in the 19th century - he allegedly attached his oversized organ to clothes so that it would not interfere.

Malloy was not a historian, but thanks to the special piquancy of his fables, they became widespread.

In reality, nothing is known about the popularity of piercing among the Romans, although they most likely knew about its existence then. But they certainly did not cling to the nipples of the raincoat: they will grab you by the cape - by accident or in a fight - and you will get a sea of ​​\u200b\u200bunforgettable pain.

The Romans fastened their cloaks simply to a button on their chest, like all decent people, and there were found enough.

But the anatomical armor with chest rings worn by the warriors from Netflix's "Barbarians" was not found. So let's leave this fiction to the conscience of the props team.

Myth 2. Roman legionaries were paid salaries in salt

It is known that salt in the ancient world was an extremely valuable commodity: it allowed stockpile provisions for a long time, and this is important when you have not yet had time to invent a refrigerator.

In the collections of "curious facts" on the Internet, you can even find a message that this product was allegedly so expensive that Roman legionnaires were paid a salary. They gave out a bag of ten kilos of salt, and spin with it as you like. Either sell it, or eat it yourself, or pickle the fish.

As proof of this theory, the English word salary (salary) is cited, which happened from the Roman salarium, "salt ration".

And so even the word "soldier" is associated with salt, that's how it is!

Actually it's a delusion writes Cambridge historian Peter Gainsford. Legionnaires were indeed paid salarium, but it was additional money to buy salt, and not the substance itself in bags. This product, of course, was the necessary ingredient in campaigns, but you will not be full of it alone.

And soldier is not a Roman word, but an old French one (soudeer). going on it is from soud - "medieval small coin." Initially, this was the name of the mercenaries.

Myth 3. The Romans covered the captured Carthage with salt

There is a legend that after the end of the Punic Wars in 146. BC e. the troops of Scipio Africanus plowed and covered with sea salt all the surroundings of the defeated Carthage, so that nothing would ever grow in these places again.

But this is not true. Firstly, no ancient historians wrote about the “salting” of Carthage. The custom of cursing your enemies by throwing this product on his ground, described in the Bible, in the Book of Judges of Israel:

And Abimelech fought with the city all that day, and took the city, and slew the people that were in it, and destroyed the city, and sowed it with salt.

More about this ritual mentioned in Hittite and Assyrian texts. But it was just a mystical ceremony, and only a handful of salts were thrown. It was a custom of the peoples of the Middle East, the Romans never did this.

Once the authors of the popular science magazine The Straight Dope decided calculatehow much salt would it take to really make the land of Carthage barren. It turned out that 763,210 tons - where do you order to take so much?

Publius Cornelius Scipio was a pragmatist. And, obviously, he would not spend an expensive resource in such quantities, only to harm an already defeated neighbor.

Myth 4. The Roman soldiers had the same armor and red cloaks

Authors of modern films and antique-themed comics depict legionnaires dressed in the same uniform as modern soldiers. All have identical armor and shields, as well as red cloaks and brand-new tunics.

It looks beautiful, but it is unlikely that the Roman legions looked like this in reality.

Historians deny the fact that all the soldiers of Rome, as one, wore pathos red cloaks. Yes, the Praetorians dressed up in purple, but they are the personal guard of the emperor, they can.

It is not known what colors the simpler legionnaires preferred. But hardly red: it is too expensive a dye. It is much more likely that the woolen cloaks of the Romans were blue, green or even gray - colorless clothes are cheaper and more practical.

The military equipment of the legionnaires was also not the same. No, of course, weapons and ammunition in the legions supplied centralized and mass-produced in manufactories. But, firstly, the products of different masters from all over the empire differed, and secondly, the soldiers acquired the lost equipment at their own expense.

In addition, legionnaires was not forbidden to make various improvements to the uniform - if the soldier had something to buy himself a warmer cloak or a stronger helmet, he did just that. Neither the centurions nor the legates demanded the unification of the uniform down to the last button - it was expensive, too complicated and not needed at all.

Myth 5. The gladius sword is needed to cut enemies

In the movies, Roman soldiers famously cut with their short gladius swords, cutting off any barbarians extra arms, legs, heads and other protruding parts of the body. But in reality this weapon used primarily as a piercing.

There are three reasons. Firstly, in a tight formation, swinging a sword back and forth is quite problematic - you can hook a comrade just in case. Secondly, to teach the recruit to stab where easier and faster than teaching him the basics of full fencing with cleaving attacks.

And finally, stabbing movements are easier and more efficient - a person who fights in this way gets tired less, and causes more damage to the enemy.

Myth 6. The Nazi salute was invented in ancient Rome

A fairly common myth says that Roman legionnaires saluted their commanders by raising their hand with their palm outstretched forward and up. It was from them that the Italian fascists and German Nazis allegedly adopted their greeting.

But this gesture is not mentioned in any Roman text. It is not depicted on any of the ancient works of art.

Roman salute for the first time meets in the painting by the French artist Jacques-Louis David "The Oath of the Horatii". On it, the Roman holds out swords to his sons, and they swear allegiance to their state. This gesture is an invention of the artist.

Members of Mussolini's fascist party, who were not particularly versed in art, decided to "borrow" the salute because they wanted to associate themselves with the mighty ancient empire. And the German Nazis adopted the gesture from them.

Judging by records Marcus Fabius Quintilian in his rhetoric textbook Institutio Oratoria, in fact, the Romans greeted each other with a relaxed hand with an outstretched finger, raised no higher than eye level. Emperor Augustus in the picture above makes just such a gesture.

Myth 7. The Romans never wore pants

There is a statement on the Internet that the Romans considered trousers to be the clothes of savage barbarians, and even enemies. And wearing them was supposedly a shameful, defiant, or even completely forbidden action. But this is, to put it mildly, an exaggeration.

The Romans themselves did not really think of the invention of pants: there was no need, the climate allowed walking with bare knees. Nevertheless, they borrowed the so-called Bracci from the Gauls. The word braca, by the way, later horrible into many European languages, and from there already passed into Russian, turning into "trousers".

At different times wearing pants in decent Roman society was considered either a symbol of rudeness and barbarism, or, on the contrary, without hesitation. Most often they were worn by legionnaires who served on the northern borders, and indeed by all people who lived and worked in distant provinces.

When there is a danger of catching something for yourself, you somehow immediately forget about fashion with decency.

Myth 8. The Romans used galley slaves

The expression "galley slaves" has long since become a catchphrase. But there is no historical evidence for it.

Their galleys, like many other things, the Romans copied from Greek. And the residents Hellas the status of a rower on a warship corresponded to that of a warrior. And only the strongest and most professional sailors who knew how to work together were allowed on board. Their work was highly valued.

The Romans adopted this system - the crews of the galleys were recruited from free people according to the same principle as the legions. These were well-trained and well-coordinated teams that received wages for their work and worked not out of fear, but out of conscience.

Service in the army, however, was considered more prestigious than rowing, but the latter was safer. There's less chance of some unwashed barbarian throwing a spear at your head while you're marching in formation.

Slaves on the oars became plant only a century of commercials in the 16th century, at the end of the history of the rowing fleet. Then the ships increased so much in size that it took too many rowers. It was no longer possible to manage with free people who wanted to get on board of their own free will.