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Locusta: the first female serial killer in history
18 April 2021  By Roma Eat 

Good morning friends,

Today our digital journey takes you on a discovery of one of the most mysterious and powerful women of ancient Rome: Locusta.

Known in history as Rome’s most cunning poisoner, Locusta is an example of how the ancient woman was not just a wife in the shadow of her husband, but could hold in her hands a lot of wealth and sometimes even the fate of the Empire itself.

If you are passionate about this topic, don’t miss our special event on Sunday 25 April: “Women of Rome: Power, Sex and Politics in the Imperial Age” . We will tell you the stories of the many “Princesses of the People”: blameless mothers, scandalous party-girls and cultured proto-feminists…

See also the full programme of special experiences for April.

Locusta: the serial killer immune to poisons

Locust, who lived during the reigns of Emperors Claudius and Nero, is often referred to as the first female serial killer in history. Her story has come down to us through the authors Suetonius and Tacitus, two Latin historians who, although born after Locust’s death, wrote down what was said about her, including many legends.

Born around 40 AD and originally from Gaul, she spent her youth in the countryside, where she learned the properties of plants, so much so that she was able to prepare poisonous potions and filters. 

It is said of her that she took small doses of her poisons every day in order to become immune to them.

The workshop in Rome and imperial clients

While still a teenager, she moved to Rome, where she opened a shop on the Palatine Hill. It was here that her fortune began and she became very popular, especially among the richer classes, who required her poisons to get rid of lovers or relatives.

Among her illustrious clients were Messalina, who, fed up with her lover Titus, decided to get rid of him, or Agrippina Minor, wife of Emperor Claudius. 

Agrippina was a very ambitious woman who wanted to bring her son Nero to power, but first she had to get rid of her husband without making it look like murder. And what better solution than to ask for help from the greatest poisoner in the Empire?

In 54 AD the emperor Claudius was served mushrooms, previously treated with poison. Locust also provided Agrippina with coloquintide, an herb that accelerates the effects of poison. 

The same herb was also used to soak the feather that the emperor used to tickle his throat and make himself vomit when he ate too much.

The murder, although well planned, aroused the suspicion of many: Agrippina managed to escape the charges but Locust was imprisoned.

Her friend Nero 

Nero, however, took her side. Agrippina’s young son was in fact extremely grateful to Locust for helping him to come to power, but above all he still needed her to get rid of other political opponents and pretenders to the throne. 

Locust poisoned the young Britannicus, son of Claudius and the emperor’s legitimate heir.

After she helped him kill all the pretenders, Nero covered her with gold and allowed her to open a school, where she could teach the properties and secrets of plants and herbs.

The legendary end of Locusta

Nero’s suicide changed Locust’s fate. The next emperor Galba condemned her to death, accusing her of having killed 400 people.

Her death became legend. 

Authors in fact tell us that, immune to all her poisons, they had to look for another way to execute her. According to some, she was raped by a tame giraffe and then mauled by several wild animals. Can you imagine such a death?

There are those who say that she was actually strangled and then her body was burnt at the stake, to make sure that her witch-like soul could not be saved.

 

If the story of Locusta’s life has enchanted you, don’t miss our special event “Women of Rome: Power, Sex and Politics in the Imperial Age”. We will tell you about the lives of dozens of great female figures who not only shone in the spotlight, but behind the scenes or in the front line, influenced the fortunes of the world’s capital.

Info and booking: 

_ write a message to: +39 351 543 8639

_ write an email to: romaeat@yahoo.it 

See also the full programme of special experiences for April.

Until the next digital journey!

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Le esperienze speciali per il mese di aprile/maggio
15 April 2021  By Roma Eat 

Amici, siete pronti per un mese pieno di imperdibili esperienze speciali?

Per il mese di Aprile abbiamo creato alcune passeggiate storiche per scoprire insieme la città di Roma ed i suoi segreti.

Il tutto in totale sicurezza!

Penna alla mano: segnatevi i prossimi appuntamenti!

Vi ricordiamo che è obbligatoria la prenotazione!

Per prenotare scrivere, indicando il numero di partecipanti, a:

  • romaeat@yahoo.it
  • +39 351 543 8639

La Via Appia Antica – Passeggiata Storica per Famiglie

Scopri i segreti e le curiosità di una delle più antiche strade di Roma: la Via Appia.
Lungo il suo tracciato, prenderai una macchina del tempo e passeggeremo insieme sulle tracce degli antichi romani.
Accompagnato dal nostro team di archeologi, ascolterai storie poco conosciute e non raccontate sui libri.
Un’esperienza speciale capace di sorprendere anche i romani da più di sette generazioni, ma soprattutto dedicata ai più piccoli!
Durante la passeggiata abbiamo pensato per loro alcune attività interattive per immergersi ancora di più nella storia e…diventare perfetti antichi romani.
Insomma, un’avventura da vivere con tutta la famiglia! 
Cosa aspetti?
L’esperienza si svolge in totale sicurezza, i posti sono limitati e la prenotazione è obbligatoria.
Quando: Sabato 17 Aprile ore 15
Durata: 2 ore
Costo: 12 euro(10 euro + 2 euro per radio sanificate)

Creata per le famiglie!

Le donne di Roma. Potere, sesso e politica in età imperiale

La storia della Roma imperiale è costellata da decine di grandi figure femminili che non hanno brillato solo di luce riflessa, ma, dietro le quinte o in prima linea, hanno influenzato le sorti della capitale del mondo.

Nell’antichità romana, in modo assai simile a oggi, le compagne dei politici assolvevano il fondamentale compito di promuovere l’immagine “domestica” del marito, ma erano anche opinion leader carismatiche, icone di stile, celebrità dall’esistenza estrema e movimentata.

Accompagnati da un’archeologa in una piacevole passeggiata lungo i Fori Imperiali, scopriremo la storia delle donne che hanno fatto Roma. Partendo da Livia, consorte del primo imperatore Augusto posta a esempio di moglie virtuosa in grado di ottenere privilegi fino ad allora sconosciuti per una donna, passando per Elena, madre di Costantino e ispiratrice di un nuovo modello di femminilità intellettuale e ascetica, fino ad arrivare a Messalina, la moglie di Claudio affetta da sfrenata ninfomania, e Agrippina Minore, l’ambiziosa madre di Nerone protagonista di incredibili e truculenti intrighi a palazzo.

Un’esperienza alla scoperta delle “Principesse del popolo“: Madri irreprensibili, scandalose party-girls e colte protofemministe…

Quando: domenica 25 aprile ore 11

Dove: Via degli Zingari 59

Durata: 2 ore

Prezzo: 12 € a persona

Adatto anche a famiglie con bambini

I segreti del Rione Monti – Passeggiata Storica

Se pensi che Roma non abbia più segreti per te… ti stai sbagliando!
Scopri con noi della città. A prova di Romani da più di 7 generazioni.
La capitale dell’antico Impero Romano, con il suo fascino millenario, nasconde alcune, che raccontano storie poco note e mai scritte sui libri.
Il primo dei rioni, Monti, ne cela di meravigliose!
Goditi una che ti condurrà in, particolari e curiosi, lontani dai classici percorsi battuti. Dalle madonnelle che vegliano sulla tua anima ad ogni passo, a misteriosi scorci medievali: tutto arricchito da curiosità sulla storia e la cultura della Roma antica e moderna.
Quando: Domenica 2 aprile ore 11
Dove: Via degli Zingari 59
Durata: 2 ore
Prezzo: 12 euro a persona

Ricorda: La prenotazione è obbligatoria. Per prenotare è sufficiente scrivere indicando il numero di partecipanti a:

  • romaeat@yahoo.it
  • +39 351 543 8639

 

Vi aspettiamo!

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A magical story: the origins of Christmas
17 December 2020  By Roma Eat 

Gifts to wrap, recipes to prepare, but above all, an entire house to fill with lights and decorations. The Christmas countdown began, and although this year’s holidays are a little different than usual, the air is full of magic.

While you’re preparing the umpteenth hot chocolate, to be prepared for the big “abbuffata” (“binge”), we want to give you a little curious anecdote about this magical holiday.

Do you know the origins of Christmas? You should know that few people know that it is not a Christian holiday and that the origins of Christmas are prior to the birth of Jesus. Yes, you got it right! Christmas has existed since before the “bambinello”, as they say in Rome.

Get comfortable: once upon a time….

Once upon a time there was the winter solstice

The winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon that occurs on December 21 or 22: the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky, then reverses course and rises again, reborn. The shortest day of the year meets the longest night: the sun seems to “shut down” because of the little light it gives us. From the next day, however, it begins to “turn on” again, and then reaches its maximum “power” (at least for us on earth) in the summer solstice.

Logical that this phenomenon didn’t go unnoticed by the ancients and, in a very primitive way, it was given a religious meaning with its cult.

Thus was born the cult of Sol Invictus. At the beginning it was celebrated in the East, Syria and Egypt in particular, and then reached ancient Rome. Emperor Aurelian adopted the sun as the supreme god of the Roman Empire and it was celebrated on December 25! 

Christmas in ancient Rome: banquets and fir trees

December 25 was a day of great celebration in Rome: the Natalis Solis Invicti. In every house were organized large banquets to which everyone was invited (including slaves!). Toasts, good food and, of course, gifts!

Santa Claus wasn’t working yet, with his reindeer and his sleigh, but there was no lack of packages on this day. On the contrary, it was very important to be generous: depriving oneself of something to give it to someone was considered a “good luck” act.

The gift that could never miss? A pine branch. What better wish for happiness and abundance than an evergreen branch! Then of course there were toys for children, while for adults there were clothes, statues and animals.

From pagan to Christian: the magic continues

When Christianity began to be accepted as a religion, the first Christian communities also began to celebrate their own Christmas, which they made coincide no longer with the birth of the “new” sun, but with that of Jesus. But at the beginning they were all a bit… confused!

Well, it was not immediately celebrated in December: there were those who celebrated it in January, who in March, who, even, in April! But from 336 A.D. a common date was reached: December 25th. The date was probably set to replace the feast of Natalis Solis Invicti with the celebration of the birth of Christ. 

Christmas is probably the most significant case of the absorption by Christianity of a concept linked to the Roman religion of the time. The “deities” changed, but the spirit of the feast remained unchanged. Until today.

Did we surprise you? Tell us what you think in the comments!

To the next digital journey

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Walking with Raphael
29 March 2020  By Roma Eat 

Good morning friends!

As promised, in this strange time when the world has been reduced to our home, we want to keep you travelling.
No, you didn’t misunderstand: travel.

Don’t panic: you won’t need to pack your bags or rush to book a plane ticket.
We will do a digital journey, discovering the beauty and curiosities of our city and country.
What do you have to do? Make yourself comfortable and relax (yes, the sofa is fine).

At the end of this article you will find a video that will make you live a unique experience.
But first, we would like to immerse you in the life of the protagonist: Raphael.
Are you ready to get on a time machine?

Our first stop: The Renaissance.
The destination: Urbino, April 6, 1483.

 

 

Urbino: the town of Raphael

Why Urbino?
In short, it’s not really the first city to think of when talking about the Renaissance.
But, here was born the extraordinary Raphael.
Not the coconut-covered chocolate or one of the four Ninja Turtles.
The painter Raphael!

So April 6, 1483.
First curiosity: April 6th is the day of both Raphael’s birth and death.
Let’s say it wasn’t the most beautiful present for his 37th birthday.

37 years old, you got that right.
But know that these were years of intense and tireless work.
Indeed, Raphael was a travel lover…like us!
His favorite destinations were Perugia, Florence and.. obviously Rome.

His passion: painting.
From a very young age his teachers tell of how difficult it was to keep him away from the drawing board.
If he couldn’t find a sheet of paper in the house, he was content with the wall (imagine the joy of mom and dad).

 

 

Raphael and Rome

During his career, Raphael knew many exceptional artists, such as the “little known” Michelangelo.
The two artists met in Rome.
Not to taste the famous “cacio e pepe” in some tavern in Trastevere, but for business.
They were both hired by the same “boss”: Pope Julius II.
It’s hard to know who had the highest salary.

Two exceptional painters, but definitely different. If Raphael was very calm and playful, with the joke always ready, Michelangelo was definitely more gruff and always agitated.

 

 

Raphael an archaeologist?

Raphael dedicated his life to another mission: rebuilding ancient Rome.
Yes, we can consider him a colleague, an archaeologist like us.

In Rome, he noticed that some monuments and statues were in a state of abandonment.
Something had to be done.
So he dedicated himself to many restorations and one special amazing project: to create the map of the ancient Rome.

Today it is Raphael himself who appears on our maps: for the avenues of Rome, many are those who seek him.
Villa Farnesina, Galleria Borghese, Palazzo Barberini, are just some of the places where you can find him.

 

 

Raphael at the Vatican

An unmissable stop remains the Vatican Palaces.

Today we want to propose to you to visit it in a unique way: only you, the guide and Raphael.
The Scuderie of the Quirinale have in fact made this wonderful video to let you admire, in all their splendor, the colors and beauty of his painting.

 

 

Have a good view!

To the next virtual journey!
Leave us a comment or propose a destination for the next digital journey!

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