Because the Romans did it!

Coriolanus

I've been listening to "A History of Rome" and the linked podcast kind of piqued my interest.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHistoryOfRome/~3/Yao6LDfUm90/69-_A_History_of_Rome_Wedding.mp3

Long story short, he's talking about a typical Roman wedding and all the traditions from back then, that have been carried on since then. Stuff like a white wedding dress, the engagement ring on the left hand, third finger, carrying the bride across the threshold etc etc.

Now some of these, perhaps, are actually throwback to pre-history and the Romans were just the first literate people to record them in any noticeable way.

But, I'm curious all the same, what are other traditions, other than using latin in medical and legal terminologies, can be traced back to the Romans, or to other very ancient civilisations?

Manach

Off-hand railway line widths.
In that the Roman's had a set width for their carts, medivael mining carts used the same width when transporting coal, and the early steam engines used the same width to pull the carts.

Coriolanus

Manach wrote: »

Off-hand railway line widths.
In that the Roman's had a set width for their carts, medivael mining carts used the same width when transporting coal, and the early steam engines used the same width to pull the carts.

Seriously? That's actually pretty cool.

CDfm

the reason is that the cartwheels wore groves in the stone paved roads that were in use.

if they didnt keep to the same width of axel it would break the wheels in the grooves

the coachbuilders for the horse coaches and railways were the same and worked to that width

thats how the railway gauge ended up being the same as was used in roman times

Dr_Phil

All that we know for the moment is that all diseases and unemployment came from Eastern Europe. If you or any of relatives gets killed by the lightning it's more than likely their fault too.

baalthor

The Thumbs Up/Down is supposed to have come from the Roman Gladiators but unlike in the movies Thumbs Up meant "Execute" - or did it?

I read in "Butler's Lives of the Saints" that fingers crossed was used by Roman judges to indicate that they had to take time to consider the evidence so the accused was left waiting on the verdict. No idea if this is true ...

brianthebard

Dr_Phil wrote: »

All that we know for the moment is that all diseases and unemployment came from Eastern Europe. If you or any of relatives gets killed by the lightning it's more than likely their fault too.

teh **** is this? This isn't AH, don't be posting crap that doesn't have any relation to the thread. Mod.

Pittens

Roman Catholicism and some Churches are influenced by Rome, particularly inside. Candles, incense, bishops attire and mitre, frescos, statues of saints ( they would have had statues of Gods), sometimes marble floors.