A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from the World's Greatest Empire

By J. C. McKeown
Oxford University Press, $17.95, 243 pages

Of all the history lessons read and recited in school, none excited my imagination as much as those of the Roman civilization. A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities by classics professor J. C. McKeown earns its title in providing a smattering of odd-yet-intriguing facts about the powerful, superstitious nation.

McKeown readily admits that the book is a collection of facts gathered in a hodge-podge fashion and categorized only by a main idea. As I read, I found this simplified method suited the subject matter perfectly, allowing one to absorb the information with ease. I enjoyed learning about Roma’s secret name — its palindrome, amor (love); those caught divulging this secret name outside sacred rituals were executed. Some of the book’s facts invoked a gasp of disbelief, such as highly educated minds using verbiage so highbrow that their writings were mistakenly viewed by the public as spells; one such author (Apulcius) was tried for witchcraft, though he’d only penned a natural history volume on aquatic life.

This book is especially enjoyable to read amid sunset hues sitting outside in the summertime, where it is easy to imagine the hills of Rome grouped about the River Tiber, the Pantheon and buildings of the Campus Martius blazing in the sun and the citizens, slaves and merchants walking the forums, living lives filled with subtle levels of curiosities.

Reviewed by Meredith Greene