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.
Discover more about Romans
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Latest about Romans
'Illegal' metal detectorist found a huge hoard of Roman treasure in Germany — and kept it hidden for 8 years
A man found a Roman-era hoard in Germany dating to around 2,000 years ago, but he took eight years to tell authorities about it.
'It's really an extraordinary story,' historian Steven Tuck says of the Romans he tracked who survived the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius
"I have found two or three rich guys, but I found a couple hundred middle class and even some desperately poor people who made it out and left records. And that shocked me."
'People made it out of the cities alive': Tracing the survivors of Pompeii and Herculaneum, 2,000 years after Vesuvius erupted
Several lines of evidence, from chiseled inscriptions to missing horses, suggest that thousands of people survived the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
Ancient Roman tombstone found beneath undergrowth in New Orleans yard
A New Orleans couple doing yard work behind their house unexpectedly found a Roman headstone of a solider who died 1,900 years ago.
Skeleton-filled well in Croatia likely holds remains of Roman soldiers, study finds
Archaeologists have discovered a mass grave of Roman soldiers hidden inside an ancient well in Croatia.
Miniature Skeleton: A ghostly 2,000-year-old party favor from a Roman banquet
This spooky skeleton was likely made to remind Roman banqueters that life is short.
Statuette of a Comic Actor: A 2,000-year-old depiction of a Roman actor letting one rip
The ancient Romans had a soft spot for physical comedy (aka fart jokes), as exemplified by a bronze figurine of a comic actor.
1,900-year-old 'treasure' found in Roman-era family's scorched house in Romania
A discovery in Romania shows the remains of an elite family's treasures from the Roman era that were scorched in a fire.
