Rome had a problem with stray dogs. Infamous criminals would be executed at the top of the Gemonian Stairs on the Capitoline Hill, and their corpses thrown down the steps where they would be left as an example to others and for the dogs to chew on.
Apart from that, the main animals used to pull carts, etc, were mules. So those are the two main types of animals in the streets.
There's an extract from Suetonius in which he describes the last minutes of the emperor Vitellius, as he's led through the streets by a mob - to the Gemonian Stairs, of course - where the crowd hurl abuse and 'mud and filth' at him. For the second word, he uses the term 'stercus' which can be translated as everything from 'dung' to 'shit' depending on context. What he's describing is the stuff pulled out of the gutters by the side of the road - a mixture of animal dung, mud, and all the other gloop you'd find in there.
Apart from that, rich elites might keep exotic pets - birds were a favourite among Romans. Following the Great Fire of AD 64, Nero had a huge area of Rome cleared to build his enormous palace, the Domus Aurea, which had what is normally described as a zoo in the grounds, but was more like a cross between a deer park (complete with deer) and a safari park with 'exotic' animals roaming around, but exactly what they were isn't certain.
Several years ago, with the assistance of a Google, I translated a paper by Catherine Saliou on the sidewalks of Pompeii. I will be publishing my translation notes within the next week or two. One mystery of Pompeii has been the series of holes drilled through the curbstones. One speculative explanation of their purpose was as anchors for canopies, which appeals to urban theorists who are imagining more amenities devised for pedestrians. But a team of young archeologist did GIS mapping of Pompeii and concluded that these holes were used to tether livestock, which seems more plausible. In other words, pedestrians competed for space with parked mules and oxen.
I’ll look forward to it! I suspect mules made up the vast majority of the pack animals in the city. Oxen were more rural beasts. At least that’s what the sources tend to suggest.
The emperor Vespasian was known as the “Muleteer” but the exact word used is ‘mango’ which means someone who sells something dubious for an inflated price. Like a used car salesman. It then goes on to explain that he bred mules, so he ended up with a name that essentially means ‘used mule salesman'. That’s always made me chuckle.
How did the presence of animals impact how Romans used city streets? In addition to the arena, were there other uses of exotic animals in Rome?
Rome had a problem with stray dogs. Infamous criminals would be executed at the top of the Gemonian Stairs on the Capitoline Hill, and their corpses thrown down the steps where they would be left as an example to others and for the dogs to chew on.
Apart from that, the main animals used to pull carts, etc, were mules. So those are the two main types of animals in the streets.
There's an extract from Suetonius in which he describes the last minutes of the emperor Vitellius, as he's led through the streets by a mob - to the Gemonian Stairs, of course - where the crowd hurl abuse and 'mud and filth' at him. For the second word, he uses the term 'stercus' which can be translated as everything from 'dung' to 'shit' depending on context. What he's describing is the stuff pulled out of the gutters by the side of the road - a mixture of animal dung, mud, and all the other gloop you'd find in there.
Apart from that, rich elites might keep exotic pets - birds were a favourite among Romans. Following the Great Fire of AD 64, Nero had a huge area of Rome cleared to build his enormous palace, the Domus Aurea, which had what is normally described as a zoo in the grounds, but was more like a cross between a deer park (complete with deer) and a safari park with 'exotic' animals roaming around, but exactly what they were isn't certain.
Several years ago, with the assistance of a Google, I translated a paper by Catherine Saliou on the sidewalks of Pompeii. I will be publishing my translation notes within the next week or two. One mystery of Pompeii has been the series of holes drilled through the curbstones. One speculative explanation of their purpose was as anchors for canopies, which appeals to urban theorists who are imagining more amenities devised for pedestrians. But a team of young archeologist did GIS mapping of Pompeii and concluded that these holes were used to tether livestock, which seems more plausible. In other words, pedestrians competed for space with parked mules and oxen.
I’ll look forward to it! I suspect mules made up the vast majority of the pack animals in the city. Oxen were more rural beasts. At least that’s what the sources tend to suggest.
The emperor Vespasian was known as the “Muleteer” but the exact word used is ‘mango’ which means someone who sells something dubious for an inflated price. Like a used car salesman. It then goes on to explain that he bred mules, so he ended up with a name that essentially means ‘used mule salesman'. That’s always made me chuckle.
Is it true that you could identify used mule salesmen in ancient Rome by their plaid togas?