A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome

by Alberto Angela, Gregory Conti (Translator)

The wondrous extravagance of banquets where flamingos are roasted whole and wine flows like rivers. The roar of frenzied spectators inside the Colosseum during a battle between gladiators. A crowd of onlookers gathered at a slave auction. The silent baths and the boisterous taverns...Many books have dealt with the history of ancient Rome, but none has been able to so engage its readers in the daily life of the Imperial capital.

This extraordinary armchair tour, guided by Alberto Angela with the charm of a born storyteller, lasts twenty-four hours, beginning at dawn on an ordinary day in the year 115 CE, with Imperial Rome at the height of its power. The reader wakes in a rich patrician home and discovers frescoes, opulent furnishings and richly appointed boudoirs. Strolling though the splendors of the Roman Forum, one overhears both erudite opinions from learned orators and local ribaldry floating out from the public latrines. One meets the intense gazes of Roman matriarchs strolling the streets, looks on as a banquet is prepared, and is afforded a peek into the sexual habits and fetishes of Roman patricians and plebs. For all those who have ever dreamed of traveling back in time, Alberto Angela's narrative style will prove thoroughly satisfying. Rich in atmosphere and historical information, A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome is a voyage into a world both distant to us in time and surprisingly near in its habits, mores, and passions.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Italy, Historical, Italian Literature, Classics

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2007

About the author

Alberto Angela is an Italian paleontologist, writer and journalist. Angela is currently a famous scientific popularizer in Italy.

Reviews

[Valeriu Gherghel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucrarea unui diletant. Mi se pare bizar să citesc o carte cu (și despre) secrete romane și să nu dau peste nici unul. Cam totul a fost spus și scris cu mult mai multă acuratețe și erudiție de istorici serioși. Vezi lista din P. S.

Capitolul despre producția de carte la Roma, despre librării și biblioteci e superficial și cu informații eronate: romanii nu citeau de la dreapta la stînga, poate așa desfășurau cărțile sub formă de rulou, sul, rotulus. Nu trebuie să studiezi lucrări de antropologie istorică pentru a descoperi că romanii erau mai scunzi și mai firavi decît bărbații de astăzi. E mai folositor să recitești Satyricon de Petronius (ospățul lui Trimalchio), pentru a ști ce mîncăruri preferau romanii (limbi de flamingo în miere) decît paginile despre arta culinară din acest volum. E inutil să acoperi pagini întregi despre faptul că străzile din Roma erau înguste și mizere. Asta știe și un elev. Capitolul despre sexualitate e confuz și pudibond.

P. S. Pentru o imagine mai limpede a vieții romanilor:
1. Jérôme Carcopino, Viaţa cotidiană în Roma la apogeul Imperiului, Bucureşti: Editura Științifica și Enciclopedică, 1979 (ediția princeps e din 1939).
2. Robert Étienne, Viața cotidiană la Pompei, București: Editura Științifică, 1970.
3. Henri-Irénée Marrou, Biserica în Antichitatea tîrzie (303-604), Bucureşti: Editura Teora, 1999.
4. Paul Veyne, Sexe et pouvoir à Rome, Paris: Éditions Tallandier, 2005 (tradusă la Editura Humanitas acum vreo 10 ani).
5. De văzut neapărat și Mary Beard, Pompeii. Viaţa unui oraş roman, traducere de Mihnea Gafița, București, Editura TREI, 2019 etc.

[Петър Стойков · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книги и филми за древния Рим има колкото щеш - и исторически, и литературна измислица, и археологически, със снимки и без. Интернетът е пълен със снимки на останалите древноримски руини. Направо ти писва по едно време.

Как обаче са живели римляните в най-големия град на света? Какво са обличали, какво са хапвали на път за работа, какви неприлични изрази са били надраскани по стените на обществените тоалетни?

Алберто Анжела успява да ни представи улиците на древния Рим така картинно, сякаш ги виждаме самите ние. Докато вървим по тях, ние не само виждаме пищните тоги на сенаторите, но и стъпваме в изобилните кучешки изпражнения, блъскаме се в намирисващата на пот тълпа. Виждаме как градът успява да функционира и как хората живеят живота си в него не на археологическо и историческо, а на съвсем реално, практическо ниво.

Постепенно остава разбирането, че това е изпреварил времето си град, който има много повече общо с един съвременен мегаполис, отколкото с който и да е град тогава. Замърсяването, шума, некачественото и незаконно застрояване, непосилно високите наеми, пренаселването, ниската раждаемост, неконтролируемата имиграция са основните проблеми на Рим и на всеки голям западноевропейски град днес. Същевременно широкият достъп до обществена хигиена, храненето в ресторанти и бързи закуски, доставки по домовете и всякакви други характеристики на консуматорската култура са уникални единствено за този град в близките му 2000 години.

Книгата е написана на съвсем популярен език и стил, много приятна за четене. Има я в Читанка.

[The Books Blender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amo Alberto Angela. Lo amavo quando ero piccola e, oggi, gli rinnovo il mio immenso amore (al quale ovviamente si affianca l’amore che ho verso Piero Angela).

Insomma, girelliamo con Alberto in questo tour letterario nella Roma antica. Scopriamo fagotti che si rivelano essere barboni; insulae affollate (e subaffittate) e domus principesche; cadaveri nascosti in piccole piazze scure. Veniamo trascinati via dalla folla, guardati male da ex legionari reinventatesi portinai; circondati da caratteristici tintinnabula.

Ma… come si divertivano i romani? Cosa indossavano la mattina appena svegli? Dove vivevano e come? Cosa mangiavano?

Insomma, Alberto risponde a queste e a molte altre domande, fornendo interessanti curiosità sui romani.

Inquietate, ma magico come il mondo romano, nonostante la sua caduta nel lontano 476 (quello occidente; quello d’oriente nel 1453) abbia influenzato così profondamente la vita e i costumi delle epoche successive. Ad esempio, con il trucco, acconciature e il neo di bellezza per le dame del Rinascimento, del 700/800 o i nostri tra case, condomini... (per non parlare del linguaggio), ect.

Somiglianze sì, in fondo la nostra cultura affonda nella loro (sotto certi aspetti, non so se sarebbero fieri di noi), ma anche profonde differenze. Abbiamo perso o molto limitati alcuni usi che, invece, potrebbero essere ottimi per la cultura e ne abbiamo lasciato altri assolutamente improponibili (nonostante per molti aspetti Roma fosse molto moderna).

Insomma, a parte queste mie considerazioni, la lettura è interessante, curata, coinvolgente, ben scritta e talvolta anche ironica.

Un libro rivolto a un vasto pubblico: non si dà nulla per scontato e ci sono molte informazioni "base", ma non mancano anche nozioni un po' più settoriali e specifiche.
Insomma, un'ottima base per avvicinare la ggggente alla storia, ai romani, alla cultura e formazione in generale, sperando di incuriosirla e spingerla leggere altro.

Quindi, ottima prova!

[S©aP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il successo di questi libri, e dei relativi documentari, è la prova che di tale divulgazione c'è necessità, e sete. Tra l'atteggiamento scontato dell'istruzione scolastica e quello auto-referente, lontano e concettuoso, delle Accademie, resta uno spazio vuoto, un silenzio, occupato dalla curiosità di molti. Angela lo riempie. Meritoriamente.
Non è un libro esaustivo. Non dice tutto. In qualche (raro) caso l'informazione resta vagamente imprecisa. Ma nel suo genere è ben fatto. È descrittivo e accattivante. Soprattutto è stimolante. Racconta, divulga e induce all'approfondimento. In modo piano, corretto e appropriato. Chi ha una cultura classica di base trova conferme, raccordo d'insieme e nuovi stimoli alla personale ricerca, per ampliare la conoscenza. Chi è digiuno, ma serenamente curioso, dispone invece di un ottima introduzione alla materia, lontana dalle complessità dello studioso e assai invogliante.
In un paese che potrebbe vivere di solo turismo (per buona metà "storico-archeologico"), ci si aspetterebbe che tutto il sistema scolastico, formativo e professionale fosse attento e orientato a questi temi. Che certe informazioni facessero parte della cultura di massa, perché respirate nell'aria o parte della struttura... "desossiribonucleica". Che certi simpatici libri non fossero necessari. Non è così. Ma questo è un altro discorso...

[7jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Finnish translation.
This is a view on the capital, Rome, in 115 AD, with the Empire at its widest, ruled by Trajan. On a Tuesday, we follow its life from early dawn to midnight, starting and ending it in the same place, by the same statue of Mater Matuta, goddess of fertility, beginnings and the dawn.

The chapters are short, a few drawings here and there, and the main story is occasionally broken by fact-chapters. There is morning homes, life in the street, temples, schools, markets, the senate, Colosseum, houses of the rich and the common people, forums, public toilets, eating places, evening banquets. Facts include telling the time, names, languages spoken in the city, typical games, city issues, jewelry, creating meals, sex life, the values of the coins. The everyday life comes alive for the readers, feeling quite like watching a multi-episode historical documentary, informative yet not too heavy. A lot of the information is taken from archaeology, text analyses, lab tests.

This is an empire of c.50 million people, with c.1,5 of them in Rome. If one looks at it from above, the main colors seem to be red, white, green, and gold. People from many nations live there, and not just because they are slaves or freed slaves. One does get a better understanding of the conditions of the slaves from various parts of the book, not just from the slave market chapter. Where they sleep, what they do, and how sexual abuse is to be expected to happen to them, and seen as ‘normal’.

Interesting facts, like what was considered antiques back then (older Ancient Egypt stuff, Etruscan stuff). What clothes they wore (and yeah, St. Paul could have worn a toga, as he was a free Roman citizen, but unlikely he did so). Why shaving was a painful progress (water-only). How laundry was done. That everyday eating was done sitting up, and the food was not the typical Italian food of today (no tomatoes, pasta, mozzarella…). That April comes from the goddess Aphrodite. How things were counted with fingers. That cows, pigs, horses were smaller than today. Surprises like that there were paintings to hang up, and in one of the forum buildings a marble map of the city. And that burping and farting was so normal at banquets and other dinners; banquets add the dropping of the food waste on the floor.

Most people live in many-floored insulas, which were less safe the more up you lived, thus the wealthier ones lived on the second floor. The condition of these places was such that most people spend their days gladly outside, going to baths, eating places, the Colosseum, the forums, etc. We get to visit the temples, see a street school (most people in the city can read, unlike in the countryside. Christians are still a hiding minority in the suburbs. The Colosseum was where the gladiator fights moved (from forums), and it was much better looking then. And the baths were a big experience: in the big baths we go to we see libraries, a theatre, food places, massage room, exercise… men risk deafness in the cold room (women avoid it mostly because they don’t visit that room), and certain people get in the baths for free (kids, soldiers, slaves). No swimming because most people can’t do it, unless their work makes them have to learn it.

The gladiator part is intense. There is still a few gladiator women pairs (until Hadrian puts end to that); the gladiator greeting is a myth, as is the use of thumbs to decide a fighter’s fate. There is a good view into the confusion the senses get when one battles in the arena, wearing the limiting gear, having to be constantly watchful. But many gladiators do live to retire.

There are so many interesting facts in this book – some I knew already, but there was much I didn’t know. The book-me is occasionally ‘seen’ by the other people and even makes contact with some, and I think this me is someone who is allowed to see and visit certain places easily (maybe the usual male Roman citizen?). The way the story was written felt easy to follow and like, and the length of the chapters just right. We meet some well-known people (like Tacitus) as well as some that are known from the writings on their gravestones.
This book is not just about the facts and looking at it just as a reader, but we get a feel of all the ups and downs of life in this city as it was. Some bits are there still today – and not just some building or object remains – and happen just as in those days, some have changed for better or worse (better at least in that people have a better chance at being taller, living longer, and surviving diseases, injuries, and childbirth). I think this is really well worth a read kind of a book, something one can dip into again later, even after the first read; and perhaps one would reread it too.

[Margarita Garova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Денят е вторник, 115 г. сл. Хр., Рим по времето на император Траян, когато империята се разширява с провинция Дакия. Рим е в своя разцвет, столица на империя, столица на света, а за гражданите му е чест да се наричат „римляни“. И все пак, дори великите градове си имат нещо като обичайно ежедневие, и Алберто Анджела ни ��азказва за него час по час, от разсъмване, когато се зареждат дюкяните със стока, до късна вечер, когато излизат тъмните сенки на хора с лоши намерения, а римските граждани, избрали да останат у дома, г��нят злите духове на мъртъвци от къщите си.

Един обикновен ден, а колко неща съдържа в себе си – Анджела разказва в сегашно време и ни води като екскурзовод последователно из домовете на богатите, копторите на бедните, показва ни робите, с чийто мускули се задвижват невидимите чаркове на града. Присъстваме на жестоки и кървави сблъсъци в Колизеума, много трудни за смилане в нашата далеч по-хуманна епоха, но съвсем удовлетворяващи за римските тълпи. Надникваме сред изпаренията на термите, в уханния будоар на римлянката, разхождаме се по форума, цял в златисти отблясъци и цветен мрамор, и оглеждаме с жадни очи трапезата на един пир.

Рим е бил нищо по-малко от чудо в онези времена, град без аналог в древния свят. Митичният му генезис е просто опит за внасяне на малко поетика в строгата рационалност на неговите архитекти. Оформян колкото за славата на императори, толкова и с мисъл за хората – или поне за тази част от живота им, в която натрупаното напрежение и недоволство да получи адекватен и сравнително безопасен отдушник.

Рим е бил жесток и опасен, огромна трудова площадка за хилядите роби, завлечени от походи или неплатени дългове, но и сцена за бляскави изяви, политически кроежи и ненадминати прояви на красноречие и мъдрост. Като всички велики градове е имал повече от едно лице, а кое ще виждат обитателите му е било често въпрос на рождено предопределение.

Книгата е истинска машина на времето. По маршрута на Анджела се сбогуваме с някои устойчиви митове за римляните, а на мястото на стереотипите идват прелюбопитни факти, извлечени от години археологически проучвания и древни трактати. Получил се е много стегнат и цялостен разказ, съвсем подходящ за хора, които, като мен, не са изкушени от античната история, но искат да имат най-обща представа, без да инвестират много усилия и време. Все пак, общата представа е най-малкото, което град като Рим заслужава.

[Suzanne]

It took me over 7 weeks to get through this 381-page book, not because it was difficult, but because it was too easy. This was narrated in a breathless, present-tense, first-person-plural, we-are-there-style that would be more appropriate for a teen audience and which grated loudly on my nerves. However, I stuck with it because I learned a lot, despite the annoying delivery.

A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome is well-researched and the author, host of two Italian popular science TV shows, is clearly enamored of the subject matter. The book describes 24 hours in Rome in the year 115 CE and focuses on minute and unexpected details that create a vivid picture of everyday life in a world 1900 years away.

The stories Alberto Angela tells about members of the various social and economic classes, exactly how they spent their time, and in what specific environments and societal systems, are indeed vibrant. But there is sometimes TMI, as in descriptions of public restroom habits and the gory and sadistic games in the Colosseum. There also seemed to be, in any description of attractive young women, a tendency on the part of the author to leer, which was off-putting. Discussions of banquets, diets and food are more fun. I had no idea that Roman hosts of that era, eager to impress, would serve their guests camel feet, roast flamingos, and peacock brains. It would have been even more fun if the writing style did not make me grit my teeth.

I can’t really recommend this except to the most ardent and avid fans of Roman history (who may know a lot of this anyway). It might work well, though, as a reference for authors of historical fiction who need a source for authentic and colorful details for a Roman novel work-in-progress.

Excuse me, lover of great prose that I am, I have to go unclench my jaw now.

[Angel Mikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Книгата може да не разкрие изненади пред подготвения читател, но има своите предимства. Успява да го пренесе и разведе из атмосферата на древния свят. Увлекателно разкрива бита и ежедневието на хората, които често остават на заден план в книгите зад владетелите, политиката и воините. Убедително провокира размишления какви са проблемите на града в древния свят и колко са близки до нерешените въпроси на съвремието.

[Sjo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it's pulp, and maybe there might be some looseness in terms of prose...but the book gives you everything you're seeking in the title. Set in one 24 hour period in 115 AD Rome, under Emperor Trajan, at the height of the Roman empire, the reader time travels to a 'typical' (in a Jack Bauer sort of way) day into the gory details of everyday living for the Roman citizen. What's for breakfast? (a huge meal with last night's left overs, and some fruit, cheese, bread, honey, milk etc. coffee hasn't been invented yet). Where are the bathrooms? (not in the apt, but in the chamber pot or out in the public bathrooms--throwing it out the window, though illegal, happens quite frequently). Romans read outloud, and quite happily go to the bathroom in open, common long bench style formation bathrooms--with running water beneath--happily chatting during the business.

It goes on. Romans lived in high-rises, and the wealthy lived on the first floor as smoke tended to make the top floors filthy (not to mention that buildings had a habit of occassionally collapsing due to illegal zoning). The neighborhood bar provided drinks and apparently, the option to enjoy the waitress upstairs. Gladiators are the matinee idols of the day, and dinner parties operate at another level compared to what we might be used to....in short, the Romans lived, and lived hard in every possible way.

[Кремена Михайлова · Rating 4 out of 5]

Чудесно четиво за дните преди, по време и след пътуване в Рим. Разходка сред тълпата на Форума, подземните коридори на Колизеума, шишенцата с мазилата на масажистите, дори шкафчетата с подправки в домовете на хората. Мода, власт, секс, култове... Преди 2000 години или сега?! Дори жегата и екзотичната растителност са си все там. Самият град "говори" и сега за тези отминали времена. Затова изцяло повярвах на книгата. И съм човек, който много не се интересува от история. Рим ме привлече към историята.

"40 триумфални арки
12 форума
28 библиотеки
12 базилики
11 големи терм100 храма
3500 бронзови статуи
15 египетски обелиска
46 публични дома
11 акведукта и 1352 чешми и фонтани
2 цирка за надбягване с колесници
2 амфитеатъра за гладиатори
4 театъра
2 големи наумахии
1 стадион за атлетически състезания
И така нататък.

А зеленината? Наистина е невероятно да се открие, че в този град, препълнен с къщи и паметници, зеленина не е лисвала. Растителността покривала около една четвърт от повърхността му, тоест около 450 хектара обществени и частни паркове, свещени гори , перистили в къщите на патрициите и т.н."

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good or bad depending on what you want from it. If you're a serious student of Rome, Alberto Angela is not going to give you much to use in a research project. He hardly ever gives details about his sources, whether they be quotes from Juvenal or Horace, or research theories from a modern Italian classicist. Most of his sources are one researcher, so the diversity of opinions isn't great either.

The publishers didn't opt to put in maps or many pictures, both of which would have been exceptionally helpful. I have no idea why there is no map, regardless of cost-saving possibilities--the whole book is a walk through Trajan's Rome, and a map would help conceptualize space. More pictures would also have been a benefit because Angela spends a great deal of text describing architecture and art (maybe the publishers realized that the existence of the pictures make the text superfluous?).

The editing was sloppy. The publishers should be embarrassed that they let Marcus Aurelius take credit for Marc Antony's funeral oration for Julius Caesar.

But despite these problems, it was very accessible and a good appetizer for other, more detailed, books on Rome.

[Outis · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Una giornata nell'antica Roma Albero Angela tramite la descrizione di una giornata tipo nella Roma di Traiano racconta gli usi del tempo (case, abiti, pasti, sessualità ecc. mentre non vengono toccati gli aspetti di cultura alta come filosofia o letteratura) sottolineando le somiglianze e le differenze della vita quotidiana di allora rispetto a quella di oggi.

L'argomento è interessante, Albero Angela lo presenta senza dare nulla per scontato, il libro è quindi adatto a lettori che nulla sanno sull'argomento, ma anche a lettori già un pochino più ferrati perché vengono raccontati anche aneddoti poco conosciuti.

La cosa che, per i miei gusti, funziona poco è lo stile. Il libro sembra una trascrizione di Ulisse o Superquark e le descrizioni di piccole scenette funzionano meglio in televisione che su carta.

Piccolo appunto negativo: capisco che Alberto Angela apprezzi molto la Roma imperiale ma questo non vuol dire che sia giusto cercare ad ogni costo giustificazioni a comportamenti "poco accettabili".
Faccio un solo esempio: Il fatto che il furto "di massa" delle opere d'arte greche da parte dei romani venga definito molto diverso rispetto a quello operato da Napoleone nei confronti delle opere d'arte italiane non è intellettualmente onesto. La giustificazione? Ai romani piaceva l'arte greca. Eh, grazie al c*, Alberto, ci mancava che rubassero delle cose che gli facevano schifo per abbellire casa propria.

Complessivamente una buona lettura ma mi aspettavo qualcosina in più, non so se leggerò altro di suo.

[Daniele Palma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sono rimasto entusiasta di quest'opera, ho letto diversi romanzi storici romani che mi sono piaciuti molto ma che spesso descrivono le gesta valorose di questo o quel militare, oppure la storia degli imperatori ma mai avevo potuto leggere la Roma quotidiana, nei particolari, nel vivere un sogno anche grazie alle tante ricostruzioni 3d che si trovano su internet dei luoghi qui descritti. Fare un sogno vedendo i 3d e leggendo il chiarissimo Alberto Angela è una piacevole esperienza, permette di alimentare il desiderio di approfondire l'argomento, ci aiuta a chiarire le idee e a confrontarci con i nostri tempi.

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the approach this book takes. The author tells us about everyday life in ancient Rome by following the course of a typical day (he chooses a day in 115 AD, when the Roman Empire was at its height), describing the activities people would have been engaged in hour by hour. He covers upper class citizens, lower class, merchants, slaves; home life, commerce, entertainment, grooming, food... a very broad overview.

If I had to make a criticism here, it would be that the book's focus on a single point in time is a bit limiting. We learn a great deal about 115 AD; but the Empire was a long-lived beast. Angela does occasionally take a step back and tell us how certain details of Roman life evolved over time, but those details only come in snippets.

The author isn't a professional historian or archaeologist; he's a television presenter, who has done a number of programs about ancient Rome. This has brought him in contact with a number of actual archaeologists, some of whom apparently provided fact-checking and advice for the book. But this is not a scholarly presentation; there are no source notes and only a fairly skimpy bibliography. Serious students will probably not find this book to be an adequate reference.

But that shouldn't trouble the casual reader, who should find the writing to be engaging and very readable. I would love to find books, along these same lines, about other cultures and time periods.

[Emanuela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Io ed Alberto in un bellissimo tour nella Roma antica all'epoca dell'imperatore Traiano, esatto mi sono sentita proprio così, in un magnifico tour virtuale dove Alberto mi spiegava gli usi e costumi degli antichi romani, come vivevano, come e cosa mangiavano, come passavano il tempo libero.
Questo libro non è un saggio, non è un romanzo, possiamo definirlo un racconto, un'esposizione, le nozioni infatti mancano di approfondimenti, ma a catturare il mio interesse è stato proprio il suo stile semplice, colloquiale ed a tratti ironico. Una cosa che ho apprezzato tantissimo è il continuo parallelismo con la vita attuale.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

L'archeologia ha questo di magico: per un attimo vi fa rivivere mondi perduti, vi fa incontrare chi non c'è più e vi coinvolge nella vita quotidiana di tanti secoli fa. Nessun effetto speciale può dare un'emozione così forte

[Maćkowy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rok 115 naszej ery to czas największego rozkwitu Cesarstwa Rzymskiego. Schyłek rządów Trajana przyniósł miastu niebywałe bogactwa i poziom życia dotąd niespotykany w historii ludzkości, nie dziwi więc, że Alberto Angela wybrał właśnie ten moment, dokładnie to ciepły czerwcowy dzień tamtego roku, żeby zabrać czytelnika na wycieczkę po najwspanialszej starożytnej metropolii.

Angela miał świetny pomysł na to, jak w przystępny sposób opisać życie codzienne starożytnych. Wędrówkę zaczynamy wcześnie rano, obserwując jak sklepikarze szykują się do nowego dnia, potem odwiedzamy patrycjuszowski domus, zaglądamy w jego zakamarki i poznajemy sekrety porannej higieny jego mieszkańców, potem wraz z upływem kolejnych godzin Rzymianie liczyli je inaczej niż my, coraz głębiej wchodzimy w tkankę miasta, odwiedzamy między innymi termy, fora , bazyliki, czy jakże ważne w życiu towarzyskim starożytnych, szalety publiczne. Angela nie tylko oprowadza nas po domach zamożnych i mieszkaniach biednych mieszkańców miasta, ale i dokładnie opisuje sposób działania i budowę term czy koloseum (o wiele bardziej skomplikowane i pomysłowe, niż się wydaje).

Wspominałem, że Rzymianie inaczej liczyli upływ czasu, i jak nietrudno się się domyśleć, jest to jedna z wielu różnic miedzy nami a nimi, jednakże warto zdać sobie sprawę, w czym na pewno pomoże lektura Jednego dnia, że na wielu płaszczyznach nasze życie wcale nie różni się tak bardzo od życia ludzi sprzed dwóch tysięcy lat - między innymi niezwykle podobnie były urządzone bloki mieszkalne, czy też kamienice, jak kto woli, a spekulacja gruntami również wtedy była na porządku dziennym, jeśli już przy tym jesteśmy to Angela bardzo ciekawie zarysował stosunki między różnymi warstwami społecznymi miasta oraz miejscu kobiet w społeczeństwie, czy na przykład rolę niewolnictwa w ekonomii cesarstwa, warto jednak pamiętać, że jeśli ktoś ma już jakąś, niekoniecznie wielką, wiedzę na powyższe tematy, to z tej książki raczej niczego nowego się nie dowie.

Teraz łyżka dziegciu: Angela ma skłonność do zbyt częstej i potoczystej beletryzacji, jak na przykład podczas opisu walki gladiatorów, nie jestem fanem takiego dryfu w tego typu książkach, ale możliwe, że się czepiam,no i styl momentami zbyt entuzjastyczny jak dla mnie, tym niemniej uważam, że jest to świetna książka aby zacząć poznawać historię Rzymu, może trochę niechronologiczne to będzie przyswajanie, ale za to bardzo przyjemne.

[Sve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Приятна книжка, която дава доста информация за живота в Рим през 1 в. след Христа.
Много хубаво беше да я чета докато се разхождам из града :)

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Io adoro quest’uomo! Alberto Angela con questo libro riesce a farmi provare la sensazione di trovarmi nella Roma di Traiano, in una giornata qualsiasi dell’anno 115 d.C. La narrazione comincia al principio di un’ipotetica giornata, e attraverso ciascun capitolo viene trattato un determinato tema: la struttura di una domus piuttosto che di un’insula, l’abbigliamento, il cibo, la vita (e la morte) dei gladiatori nel Colosseo, la schiavitù, le terme e i bagni pubblici, la giustizia, i costumi sessuali. Inframezzate nel discorso vengono evidenziate alcune curiosità, come ad esempio i modi per misurare il tempo e i numeri, le festività e le divinità, il sistema monetario. Il filo del discorso scorre in maniera molto fluida: durante la lettura ci sembra quasi di assistere a uno dei classici documentari in stile Angela, dove il conduttore – in questo caso scrittore – ci guida e ci porta insieme a lui a vedere e scoprire l’oggetto di studio, in maniera lieve ma professionale, rigorosa e precisa (e questa sensazione è confermata dall’uso frequente della prima persona plurale, quasi a voler rendere esplicita la nostra presenza nella scena descritta, come dei novelli Dante accompagnati dal loro Virgilio).

[Anna [Floanne] · Rating 4 out of 5]

“L’archeologia ha questo di magico: 
per un attimo vi fa rivivere mondi perduti, vi fa incontrare chi non c’è più e vi coinvolge nella vita quotidiana di tanti secoli fa. 
Nessun effetto speciale può dare un’emozione così forte…”


Forte della sua lunga esperienza da documentarista, Alberto Angela porta il lettore a spasso per l’antica Roma, svelando in modo minuzioso i segreti degli abitanti delle ricche domus patrizie o delle insulae (l’equivalente dei condomini popolari di oggi) in una città che si sveglia all’alba tra mille attività: commerci, terme, affari e politica, per concludersi con giochi equestri, combattim3 ti di gladiatori e lauti banchetti a notte fonda.
Angela racconta proprio tutto: dalla tipologia di abiti indossati, ai riti di igiene del corpo, dalla disposizione delle stanze nei vari edifici al culto delle divinità. Il lavoro di ricerca che sta alla base di questo libro (e di tutto il suo lavoro) è immenso e preziosissimo per farci capire quanto moderni fossero in realtà i nostri antichi padri.
In un libro così e inevitabile che si senta un po’ la mancanza del supporto visivo, anche se il modo di narrare dell’autore è molto fedele ai suoi programmi televisivi. Per mia fortuna, ho avuto modo di vistare più volte sia Roma che i siti archeologici di Ostia antica, Pompei ed Ercolano e ciò mi ha premesso di apprezzarlo di più. Voto: 4 stelle

[D · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was informative but the author's nationalism and xenophobia were distasteful. When other countries take Roman artifacts and monuments, they're barbaric thieves. When the Romans take monuments and artifacts from other countries, they're art critics who love and appreciate art. Italian cuisine "is the most appreciated in the world (even more than French cuisine, whose glaring lack of first courses and almost exclusive use of butter in cooking limit its variety and lightness)." Basically, anything the ancient Romans did that were great, the Romans invented it and influenced the entire world. Anything that the ancient Romans did that seem uncivilized to our modern eyes, well, other countries in the "Third World" do it right now.

While I appreciated the author's efforts to clarify stereotypes that modern people may have about the ancient Romans, the author had absolutely no problem talking about stereotypes that he has about other countries, especially those in the "Third World." For example, he writes, "In some Roman neighborhoods, it seems as though you were walking down the streets of prostitution in Mumbai, with a line of doorways filled with young girls smiling at you and inviting you in, even from the windows." He could have taken the middle part of the sentence out, and it still would have given us an image of what it was like in some Roman neighborhoods. "In some Roman neighborhoods" you see "a line of doorways filled with young girls smiling at you and inviting you in, even from the windows." There, Alberto Angela, I fixed it for you.

I picked up this book to learn about life in ancient Rome, not to be inundated with stereotypes about people in India, Yemen, or as the author says, "the Third World."

[Tymciolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mała historia.

Starożytność to mój konik. Szczycę się dobrą znajomością historii Rzymu. Wychodzi jednak na to, że o ile historię polityczną Imperium Romanum znam wcale nieźle, tak nie wiem nic o zwykłych ludziach zamieszkujących Wieczne Miasto dwa tysiące lat temu. Alberto Angela cofnął mnie w czasie i oprowadził po ówczesnym Rzymie. Wycieczkę zaliczam do udanych, bo przewodnik umiał sprzedać swoją wiedzę i mnie nie zanudził. Pokazał poza oczywistymi must see i te mniej oklepane, znane tylko tubylcom miejscówki. Opowiedział ze swadą o mentalności mieszkańców. Dorzucił też sporo ciekawostek, które pozwolą zabłysnąć w towarzystwie.

Przyjemna i niegłupia literatura popularnonaukowa. Polecam.

[Andreas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wished that you had a time machine so that you could go back in time and see how people used to live? Well you no longer have to. You just have to read this book.

[Kirin171 · Rating 4 out of 5]

More history books like this one!

[Steven Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful little work provides a fascinating way of learning about daily life in ancient Rome, based on the best knowledge of historians--by taking an hour by hour look at what the Romans do. The depiction of the day takes place in 115 AD, under the reign of the Emperor Trajan. After a very brief examination of the era 19-21, we begin with life a few hours before dawn. Streets are dark--as are houses. When night fell, darkness reigned in Rome; very few homes had lanterns or other forms of lighting.

The book begins with the start of the day for a wealthy man, at 6 AM. His home (the domus) is described nicely. A slave begins heating up the "stove" in the kitchen. At 6:30, the master awakens and pays his respects to the household deity. By 7, he begins dressing in his comfortable toga (a nice diagram on page 47 illustrates the process). By 7:10 AM, the woman of the house rises and begins her day.

The book, thus, proceeds along these lines, with interruptions every so often to outline important aspects of Roman life. For instance, one such "time out" described the structure and functioni9ng of large apartment complexes that were manifest in many areas of Rome, the insula. A fascinating discussion!

On throughout the day, until darkness arrives. At 9 PM, the author, Alberto Angela, discusses the sexual lives of Romans. By midnight shops are closed and locked, few people walk the streets (and many of those who do are pretty unsavory).

All in all, a nice little work for those who are curious about the lives of ancient Romans. The hour by hour view works very nicely.

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Хляб и зрелища. Анджела е написал увлекателен пътепис и развежда читателя от мръсните малки улички, “панелките”, Колизея до античните СПА комплекси (термите и царството на водата), до храмовете и Форумите. Срещаме роби, сенатори, занаятчии, проститутки, умиращи престъпници.

Описал е и Римската кухня - доста отвратителна от днешна гледна точка по отношение на месото (за малко да ме откаже от него).

Митът за Рим е точно мит. Термите са били достъпни за всички с ниската си входна такса за предлагания лукс. Но Колизеумът е бил безплатен! Публичните екзекуции са били публични представления, кръвта е опивала тълпата - и патрции, и плебеи - а начините на умъртвяване са били забележително изобретателни, с отлична хореография.

В Рим има всички наченки на това, което наричаме “модерен свят”. Но те са се крепели на огромното количество роби, на които се е гледало като на полезни кухненски миксери или ремонтни инструменти. И е добре, че тази епоха е останала в миналото.

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come in “amore e sesso nell’antica Roma” Alberto Angela riesce a trasportarti nella Roma Imperiale con una facilità tale che quasi ti sembra assurdo. Ne respiri gli odori, senti il chiacchiericcio dei romani per le vie e le urla dal Colosseo. Senti il calore delle Terme romane e la puzza del mercato degli animali come se fossi veramente lì, in mezzo la piazza insieme a lui. Il suo modo di raccontare è decisamente unico nel suo genere, ne raccomando con piacere la lettura se volete imparare di più su di un popolo così avanti per essere vissuto secoli e secoli prima di noi.

[Netta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Чудесная, очень годная книжка про то, как дорога была уже в 115 г. н.э. недвижимость в Риме, какими блюдами сенаторы удивляли своих гостей (фаршированный соловей в розовых лепестках это вам не шутки), как относились к гигиене, женщинам, сексу, как на самом деле проходили гладиаторские бои и что служило римлянам вместо таблоидов. В общем, развлекательно-познавательное, не очень обременительное чтиво.

[Борислава Чотрева · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Един ден в Древен Рим" е книга, обхващаща буквално всеки аспект от живота в древния град - жилищата, обзавеждането, храната, подправките, прането, религията, секса, дрехите, гримовете. Мога само да си представям какви усилия е коствало на автора да проучи всичко това и да го побере в 350 страници. Учудващо е колко развита и модерна цивилизация била това - първата, която осъществява глобализацията и търговията със стоки от целия познат тогава свят. Древните римляни познавали нуждата от добра канализация и хигиена за намаляване на заразите, въпреки че бактериите и вирусите ще бъдат открити няколко века по-късно. Макар и бюрократична римляните имали правна система и адвокати, същински правни виртуози. В Древен Рим се развивали изкуствата, литературата, медицината, много от римляните осъзнавали нуждата от добро образование. Разбира се, няма как да бъдат пропуснати тъмните аспекти от живота в древния град като класовите различия, робството, жестокостта на гладиаторските битки, но въпреки това оставам с впечатление за една напреднала цивилизация, чиито висоти няма да бъдат достигнати скоро от историческа гледна точка. Поразителното обаче е осъзнаването, че всъщност ние сме продукт именно на тази цивилизация и дължим съвременния си начин на живот отчасти именно на нея. От нея произхождат както блоковете, в които живеем, така и бикините, които носим. Вече разбирам афоризма "Всички пътища водят към Рим."

[Andrada · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book has some interesting insights into Roman life, I ultimately didn’t care much for the writing style. Alberto Angela’s idea of popular history seems to be that he should make as many parallels to the modern world as possible and drop a couple of English words along the way for good measure (I read this in Romanian so I’m guessing that’s the case in the original Italian as well). It was just so cringe inducing and dissonant to the topic that it destroyed the immersive quality a book like this can have.

I also did not particularly enjoy his going on and on about how everything from the modern world is derived from ancient Rome (a stretch) or his occasional sleaziness (how many breasts do you need to mention in a nonfiction historical book?).

Dissatisfactions aside, there were a few interesting points that he made and I did enjoy some of the chapters, particularly those about the domus and the insulae, I just wish the book was written better.