King of Rome
This article is about the monarch of the ancient Roman Kingdom. For the medieval title under the Holy Roman Empire, see King of the Romans. For Napoleon I's son and heir, see Napoleon II. The King of Rome (Latin: Rex Romae) was the chief magistrate of the Roman Kingdom.[1] According to legend, the first king of Rome was Romulus, who founded the city in 753 BC upon the Palatine Hill. The kings after Romulus were not known to be dynasts and no reference is made to the hereditary principle until after the fifth king Tarquinius Priscus. Overview[edit] Early Rome was not self-governing, and was ruled by the king (Rex). The supreme power of the state was vested in the Rex, whose position gave the following powers: Chief Priest[edit] What is known for certain is that the king alone possessed the right to the auspice on behalf of Rome as its chief augur, and no public business could be performed without the will of the gods made known through auspices. Chief Executive[edit] Chief Judge[edit]
Roman Senate
It was one of the most enduring institutions in Roman history, being founded in the first days of the city (traditionally founded in 753 BC). It survived the overthrow of the kings in 509 BC, the fall of the Roman Republic in the 1st century BC, the split of the Roman Empire in 395 AD, the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, and barbarian rule of Rome in the 5th, 6th, and 7th centuries. The Senate of the West Roman Empire continued to function until 603 AD. During the days of the kingdom, it was little more than an advisory council to the king.[1] The last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, was overthrown following a coup d'état led by Lucius Junius Brutus. During the early Republic, the Senate was politically weak, while the executive magistrates were quite powerful. After the transition of the Republic into the Principate, the Senate lost much of its political power as well as its prestige. Senate of the Roman Kingdom[edit] Senate of the Roman Republic[edit]
Ancient Roman Laws
Since the days of the Law of the Twelve Tables, developed during the early republic, the Roman legal system was characterized by a formalism that lasted for more than 1.000 years. Early Roman law was drawn from custom and statutes, but later during the times of the empire, the emperors asserted their authority as the ultimate source of law. Their edicts, judgments, administrative instructions, and responses to petitions were all collected with the comments of legal scholars. "What pleases the emperor has the force of law." As the law and scholarly commentaries on it expanded, the need grew to codify and to regularize conflicting opinions. The basis for Roman law was the idea that the exact form, not the intention, of words or of actions produced legal consequences. The Ancient Roman law was one of the most original products from the Roman Empire!
Ancient Rome
Ancient Roman homes, houses and villas As with other aspects of ancient Roman life and Roman architecture, Roman homes, houses and Roman villas underwent a degree of evolution, particularly as the fortunes of Rome impacted wealth, society, roman technology and standards of living. A further factor to be taken into account is the vast period of time being considered when we speak of “Roman” homes and housing. Ancient Rome had a history which lasted over a thousand years and as such it is hardly surprising that the customs, needs and dwellings of the citizens should change. In the centre of town the most over-populated areas where the plebeians dwelt tended to be the lowest and generally least salubrious, probably as they used to be marshes before being drained. As we look at ancient Roman houses and villas we will notice that their development was influenced by very real aspects such as: Early Roman Homes These early huts were generally rectangular or lozenge shaped. Rome Apartments
Ancient Roman Homes - Domus, Insulae, Villa
Ancient Roman Homes Domus In ancient Rome, the domus was the type of house occupied by the upper classes and some wealthy freedmen during the Republican and Imperial eras. It comes from the Ancient Greek word domi meaning structure since it was the standard type of housing in Ancient Greece. It could be found in almost all the major cities throughout the Roman territories. The modern English word domestic comes from Latin domesticus, which is derived from the word domus. The word dom in modern Slavic languages means "home" and is a cognate of the Latin word, going back to Proto-Indo-European. The elite classes of Roman society constructed their residences with elaborate marble decorations, inlaid marble paneling, door jambs and columns as well as expensive paintings and frescoes. The homes of the early Etruscans, predecessors of the Romans, were simple, even for the wealthy or ruling classes. Interior Atrium A schematic of a domus Interior Architectural Elements Cubiculum Bedroom. Exterior
