The Numbers Behind Ancient Rome: Stats that Define *the* Supercity of the Ancient World
According to Roman mythology, the city of Rome started on April 21, 753 BCE, when Romulus, a half-god who defeated his twin brother Remus, became the first king of the city. What initially began as a small community on the Palatine Hill eventually grew into the heart of an empire that covered three continents, ranging from Scotland to the Sahara.
Here's a breakdown of the numbers behind Rome's distinction as a pioneering city for innovation, engineering, and public services that shaped urban living:
One million: Rome's population by the year 1 A.D.
The city marked a historic achievement, a first milestone, which wouldn't be equaled until 19th-century London.
Forty thousand: The number of apartment buildings in Rome.
(The country's islands featured tall buildings that reached heights of around five stories, providing housing for most of Rome's urban residents. Apartments far outnumbered single-family homes at an impressive 20 to one.)
200 million gallons of water are delivered each day through aqueducts.
the world's first public sewage system, still operational today.
850: Bathing facilities or private bathrooms in a city.
Personal cleanliness was highly valued in ancient Rome. The city even had 11 large public bathhouses, with one of them spanning an impressive 32 acres, serving as a gathering place for both leisure and hygiene.
1,300: Public drinking fountains
These fountains made sure that clean water was available to residents all throughout the extensive city.
144: Public toilets
Rome's focus on cleanliness was reflected in its well-placed public restrooms. The Romans turned using the restroom into a social event, where they would meet friends, discuss ideas, and attend to social engagements.
4: Stories in Trajan's Market, the First Modern Mall
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Approximately 300,000 families were receiving support from the public welfare system.
The city of Rome took the initiative to offer welfare benefits by providing free grain to its most vulnerable citizens, resulting in hunger being relatively unusual in the capital city of the empire.
53 million pieces of trash found in Monte Testaccio, which is the world's first landfill.
This massive landfill, standing over 115 feet (54 meters) tall, highlights the city’s early approach to waste management. The massive landfill had a circumference of about 1 kilometre, was a real “landfill” of the Roman where lots of trash systematically dumped and accumulated. This site demonstrated the city’s remarkable ability to manage waste on a massive scale.
1: Postal service and daily newspaper
, an early form of public news, was carved onto stone or metal and displayed in public areas, keeping citizens informed about government decrees and local events.
250,000: The capacity of the Circus Maximus
This colossal sports arena held five times the capacity of modern stadiums like Yankee Stadium, hosting chariot races and other grand events.
18: Centuries that the Pantheon’s dome remained the largest unreinforced concrete dome
At 142 feet in diameter, this architectural marvel continues to inspire awe and remains a symbol of Roman engineering excellence.
5: Times the Colosseum was filled with water for naval battles
, or staged naval battles, as a form of entertainment for its citizens.
8: Roman aqueducts still in use today
While Rome’s aqueducts date back thousands of years, several sections are still in operation, including one that fuels the famous Fontana di Trevi, one of the most popular touristic attractions in the world.
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