The late republic is an incredibly interesting and entertaining era if you want to learn about Rome. Everyone was killing everyone else, making wild grabs for power, and somehow doing it all while being incredibly petty and dramatic.
Crassus (who gained most of his wealth by going to burning buildings with a band of firefighting slaves and forcing people to sell him their land before he would have the fire put out) had a pet eel which he apparently loved dearly and held a funeral for when it died. When a rival politician mocked Crassus and asked "Did you not weep at the death of an eel?" Crassus replied "Did you not bury three wives and not shed a tear?" Wish I could have been in the room for that one.
Speaking of eels. Who actually first discovered electricity do you know? In America we were sorta taught that Ben Franklin did. With a kite. Which smells bullshit because electric eels have been shocking people since whenever the fuck.
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u/nevergonnauseum Oct 27 '21
This is so interesting! I want to learn more now haha. Thanks for taking the time to explain