Lightening was considered the embodiment of divine power. Places where it struck became the sites of oracles and temples consecrated to Zeus. According to Roman legend, an early king of Alba claimed to be equal, or superior to, the god Jupiter. With the aim of proving his point and impressing his subjects, King Amulius Silvius built machines that imitated both thunder and lightning. Ironically, Amulius and his horse perished when they were struck down by a thunderbolt.

Augustus established a 3,000-man force that policed Rome during daylight hours. After dark, his 7,000 fire fighters resumed safeguarding the city. Among the fire brigade were specialists for pump and water, blanketers, hookers (grappling hooks), catapultists (for knocking down walls), and mattress men. The firefighters were nicknamed "little buckets" because they carried small water pails constructed of rope sealed with pitch. Augustus paid for the Cohortes Vigilum by levying a 4% tax on the sale of slaves.

Born in 69 B.C., Queen Cleopatra was a descendant of Ptolemy I, a Macedonian Greek and companion of Alexander the Great. After the conquest of Egypt in 332 B.C., the Ptolemy (TALL-uh-mee) dynasty remained Macedonian Greek until 30 B.C. Cleopatra's grandfather may have had a concubine, so it is possible that her ethnicity included Egyptian.

It has been suggested that Caligula may have made his horse a consul, with the implication that even a horse could perform senatorial duties. True or not, Incitatus was treated with lavish abandon. His stable was made of marble and contained an ivory manger, his collar was studded with precious jewels, and his blankets were the color of royal purple. Dio Cassius recorded that servants fed him oats mixed with gold flakes.

Asparagus was an esteemed delicacy in ancient Rome. Early Greeks and Romans called it asparag, the Persian word for shoot. After harvest, the crop was transported by swift chariot to the Alps, where it was then buried in deep snow. After 6-months it was retrieved in time for Rome's Feast of Epicurius. It is said that Emperor Augustus built a special fleet of ships to deliver the fresh stalks around the empire. Considered best cooked al dente, the catch-phrase, "quicker than it takes to cook asparagus" was a common first century expression. According to Pliny the Elder, asparagus was an aphrodisiac. Reportedly, Julius Caesar preferred his with melted butter.

Rachel's father, Laban, was a greedy and dishonest man who frequently shortchanged Rachel's husband, Jacob. Having received no dowry, Rachel stole her father's gods, or images, hiding them underneath her camel's saddle. It is likely they were cast of gold or silver, and had great value. Genesis 31:34 "Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them." (See Puzzling Scriptures: Rachel Sat On The Images)

Romans were annoyed at the simplicity of Christian worship. They had no idols, temples or oracles. The pagans could not fathom a religion devoid of sacrificial functions or the supernatural powers of ordained priests. Because Christians in Rome did not worship state supported deities, they were considered subversive atheists and subject to capital punishment.

The temple honoring the goddess, Libertas, was dedicated on the Aventine Hill in Rome around 238 B.C. The Latin word, Libertas, means freedom. Her depiction can still be seen on ancient Roman coins and various artifacts.

Romans typically ate three meals per day. Knives and spoons were fashioned from antlers, wood, bronze, bone or iron. Forks were not in common use until the fourth century.

Salt was of crucial importance economically. The expression “not worth his salt” stems from the practice of trading slaves for salt in ancient Greece and Rome.