Famous Romans
This was the title given to the main ruler of the Roman Empire.
What is an Emperor?
Fun Fact: Some emperors had very long titles, including “Pontifex Maximus,” which meant chief priest of the Roman state religion.
This Roman god was the most powerful and considered king of the gods.
Who is Jupiter?
Fun Fact: Jupiter was often pictured with a lightning bolt and an eagle, symbols of his power.
This city became the capital of the Roman Empire and grew from a small village on seven hills.
What is Rome?
Fun Fact: Rome’s famous hills gave the city strong defense against early enemies.
This massive arena in Rome hosted games, fights, and public events.
What is the Colosseum?
Fun Fact: The Colosseum could hold up to 50,000 spectators, with an elaborate system of trapdoors and lifts for animals and scenery.
This natural disaster buried the Roman city of Pompeii in 79 CE.
What is a volcanic eruption?
Fun Fact: The ash preserved buildings, art, and even the shapes of people in plaster casts.
This famous Roman leader was assassinated in 44 BCE.
Who is Julius Caesar?
Fun Fact: Julius Caesar was once kidnapped by pirates, and he insisted they raise his ransom because he thought he was worth more.
This Roman god was connected to war and soldiers.
Who is Mars?
Rome controlled land across much of this continent.
What is Europe?
This Roman invention carried water from rivers or mountains into cities.
What is an aqueduct?
Fun Fact: Some aqueducts stretched for dozens of kilometers and used only gravity to move water.
This modern country contains the northern Roman wall built to mark the empire’s edge.
What is the United Kingdom?
Fun Fact: Parts of the wall (called: Hadrian's Wall) still survive today, and you can visit them as a historical site.
This Roman emperor is remembered for cruelty and for blaming Christians for fires in Rome.
Who is Nero?
Fun Fact: Nero loved music and even performed publicly, something very unusual for an emperor.
This Roman goddess was connected to love and beauty.
Who is Venus?
Rome also controlled parts of this continent to the south.
What is Africa?
Fun Fact: The city of Carthage, in modern Tunisia, was one of Rome’s biggest rivals before it became part of the empire.
Romans built these public systems to remove waste from cities and keep people healthy.
What are sewers or public latrines?
Fun Fact: The Cloaca Maxima in Rome is one of the world’s oldest sewer systems.
Rome fought enemies from North Africa who used this large animal in battle.
What are elephants?
Fun Fact: Elephants were often armored and could terrify infantry, but they were hard to control.
This person became Rome’s first emperor.
Who is Augustus?
Fun Fact: Augustus’ real name was Gaius Octavius, but the Senate gave him the title Augustus, meaning “the revered one.”
Romans copied many of their gods from this earlier civilization.
Who are the Greeks?
Fun Fact: The Romans often changed the names of Greek gods but kept most of their stories and powers.
At its height, the Roman Empire stretched across this many continents.
What is three?
This building material invented by Romans helped many structures survive for thousands of years.
What is Roman concrete?
Fun Fact: Roman concrete was made from volcanic ash, lime, and water, which made it extremely durable, especially in water.
This new religion started in a part of the Roman Empire called Judea and became very popular across Rome.
What is Christianity?
Fun Fact: Christianity grew from a small group of followers into the official religion of the Roman Empire hundreds of years later.
According to legend, this twin brother helped found the city of Rome after being raised by a she-wolf.
Who is Romulus?
Fun Fact: Romulus is said to have later become the first king of Rome.
Romans worshipped many different gods because each one controlled this.
What is different parts of life, such as war, farming, travel, and love?
Fun Fact: Romans would offer small sacrifices, like food or coins, to ask a specific god for help in daily life.
This large sea connected many Roman cities and helped with trade and travel.
What is the Mediterranean Sea?
Fun Fact: Romans called it Mare Nostrum, meaning “Our Sea,” because it was central to their empire.
This type of Roman construction connected cities allowing soldiers, merchants, and messengers to travel quickly across the empire and lasted for centuries.
What are Roman roads?
Fun Fact: Some Roman roads are still in use today, over 2,000 years later.
This famous general came from North Africa and led his army across mountains to fight Rome.
Who is Hannibal?
Fun Fact: Hannibal’s journey over the Alps took months and is remembered as one of the greatest military feats in history.