Roman news, features and articles

The ancient city of Rome became the heart of a sprawling empire that lasted for hundreds of years, and we're still unearthing ship-loads of Roman artifacts, mystifying treasures and even forts around 2,000 years later.
At Live Science, our expert writers and editors follow the work of historians and archeologists to bring you the most compelling discoveries and facts about the Romans. From their unusual superstitions to the rise and fall of the once-mighty empire, check out the latest news, features and articles about the Romans.
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Latest about Romans

Which Roman emperor ruled the longest?
By Owen Jarus published
The question of which Roman emperor ruled the longest is tricky to answer.

After Mount Vesuvius erupted, Romans returned to Pompeii and stayed for 400 years — but it was likely anarchy
By Sascha Pare published
New excavations in Pompeii's Insula Meridionalis quarter have confirmed long-held suspicions that people returned to the ancient Roman city after the volcanic eruption in A.D. 79.

Roman Britain quiz: What do you know about the Empire's conquest of the British Isles?
By Kristina Killgrove published
The Romans took over a large chunk of Great Britain 2,000 years ago. The conquest was anything but smooth sailing.

Hadrian's Wall: The defensive Roman wall that protected the frontier in Britain for 300 years
By Kristina Killgrove, Owen Jarus published
The wall is the largest Roman archaeological feature in Britain and was built to defend the northernmost limit of the Roman Empire.

Archaeologists discover 1,800-year-old Roman watchtower built to protect the empire during Marcus Aurelius' reign
By Laura Geggel published
Archaeologists are excavating a Roman-era watchtower in Croatia that was "built in a strategic location" on the banks of the Danube River.

What happened to Rome after the empire fell?
By Owen Jarus published
Rome continued on after the Western Roman Empire fell but faced war and a population crash.

Romans loved to wear socks and sandals — could that be the reason for the massive shoes found at Magna fort?
By Tim Penn published
Archaeologists aren't "baffled" by giant shoes but see them as a way to test different theories about how Roman soldiers coped with new environments along Hadrian's Wall.

Roman dodecahedron: A mysterious 12-sided object that has baffled archaeologists for centuries
By Kristina Killgrove published
There are more than 50 theories for the function of this 12-sided, pentagonal-faced bronze object — but archaeologists have never quite figured it out.
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