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
—The Roman Empire: Rulers, expansion and fall
—7 Roman inventions: Incredible feats of ancient technology
—Could you stomach the horrors of 'halftime' in Ancient Rome?
Latest about Romans
Archaeologists discover 1,800-year-old Roman watchtower built to protect the empire during Marcus Aurelius' reign
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?
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?
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
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.
What did ancient Rome smell like? BO, rotting corpses and raw sewage for starters ...
We can probably safely assume Rome, in many areas, was likely pretty dirty and rank-smelling. That said, there's evidence of perfumes, incense and even deodorants.
8 ancient Roman shoes of 'exceptional size' discovered at Roman fort near Hadrian's Wall
Eight XXL leather shoes have been recovered from Magna, a Roman-era fort along Hadrian's Wall.
'Puzzling' bronze discs adorned with lion heads discovered in Roman-era grave
The bronze artifacts may have served as coffin handles for a burial in what is now Israel, but the true nature of the find remains unclear.
Roman army camp found in Netherlands, beyond the empire's frontier
Archaeologists and students in the Netherlands have unearthed a 1,800-year-old temporary Roman military fort in the Netherlands.
