The grandeur of ancient Rome is well known—its majestic temples, grand forums, and vast empire. But beyond the splendor of the city lay a darker reality: the perilous streets of Rome. The bustling capital of the Roman Empire was not just a place of politics and commerce but also one of crime, violence, and social unrest. Life in the Eternal City

The effectiveness of the corvus was demonstrated in the Battle of Mylae in 260 BCE, one of the first major naval engagements of the war. Under the command of Gaius Duilius, the Roman fleet used the corvus to devastating effect. Despite their inexperience at sea, the Romans managed to board and capture several Carthaginian ships, securing a decisive

The First Punic War (264–241 BCE) was a crucial conflict between Rome and Carthage, two rising Mediterranean powers. At the heart of Rome’s success in this war was an innovative device called the corvus, Latin for "crow." This seemingly simple yet ingenious piece of technology revolutionized naval warfare and played a critical role in securing

By the 16th and 17th centuries, wealthier individuals began to see improvements in lavatory design. The French chaise percée (pierced chair) was a type of portable toilet with a wooden seat and a chamber pot underneath. In 1596, Sir John Harington, an English courtier, designed a flushing toilet for Queen Elizabeth I, complete with a raised wooden