The amount of sleep that ancient Romans got is not well known, but it is likely that they went to bed at a similar time to people today. Ancient Roman manuals on how to lead a well-regulated life suggest that people went to bed at an hour equivalent to 10:00 PM to midnight depending on the season. In the summer, they typically went to bed later, around midnight, while in the winter was closer to 10:00 PM.
Several factors appear to have influenced when ancient Romans went to bed — the season, the time of day, and the individual. In ancient Rome, the day was divided into five sections, each spanning a third of the day. It was believed that the start of the day should correspond to sunrise, and that the end of the day should correspond to sunset. This could have meant that people in the winter went to bed earlier than people in the summer.
In addition to the season and the time of day, individuals may have gone to bed at different times. Wealthy Romans may have gone to bed later than those who were less well-off. In ancient Rome, rich landowners would often keep their servants up late to attend to their needs.
Ancient Roman manuals on how to lead a good life suggest that people went to bed earlier than people do today. This is likely due to the lack of artificial light and the difficulty of completing tasks in the dark. It is likely that people in ancient Rome went to bed as soon as it became too dark to work.
The sleeping habits of ancient Romans were also impacted by their physical, mental, and spiritual health. Ancient Roman doctors recommended that people should go to bed around the ninth or tenth hour of the day, which was around 9 pm or 10 pm. They believed that getting enough sleep was essential to good health and well-being.
Ancient Romans also had a particular bedtime ritual that they followed each night. They would often take a bath and anoint themselves in oils and perfume before getting into bed. They would also eat a light meal and enjoy a glass of wine. After this, they would pray and meditate before finally getting into bed.
The exact time that ancient Romans went to bed may not be known for sure, but it is likely that it was around 10 pm to midnight depending on the season and individual. They also had a particular bedtime ritual they followed and saw going to bed as an important part of a well-regulated life.
Diet At Bedtime
In terms of diet and nutrition, the ancient Romans ate light at bedtime. According to archeological evidence, the upper-class would usually eat bread, olives, meat, figs, and cheese for their evening meal. For lower-class Romans, the evening meal was typically simpler and could include porridge as well as milk and honey.
This light diet was believed to enable a good night’s sleep as well as allowing the digestive system to rest. ancient Roman doctors believed that eating too late in the evening could cause indigestion and even impact an individual’s mental health.
In addition to a light evening meal, Romans also believed that a glass of wine or some other alcoholic drink could help them get a better night’s sleep. Despite this, studies have suggested that drinking alcohol before bed is not beneficial and can actually disrupt sleep.
The ancient Romans also believed that eating certain foods at bedtime could have medicinal benefits. For example, they believed that eating fennel could help to combat headaches and aid sleep. They also believed that honey had calming properties that could help people get a good night’s sleep.
The ancient Romans understood the importance of a healthy diet when it came to getting a good night’s sleep. They ate light meals at night and also believed that certain foods and drinks could help them get a better night’s sleep.
Lack of Digital Technology
In ancient Rome, there was a lack of digital technology that could have disrupted the sleep patterns of the people. Smartphones, computers, and TVs were not around to keep people up late into the night. This could have enabled people to go to bed earlier than they might otherwise have done.
Furthermore, the lack of artificial light could have impacted when people went to bed. In the winter, when natural light was scarce, people may have gone to bed earlier than in the summer. This is because it would generally have been too dark to do anything after sunset.
The lack of digital technology could also have impacted the sleeping habits of ancient Romans. Smartphones, TVs and computers often expose us to artificial light which can disrupt our sleep. The lack of this technology in ancient Rome could have enabled people to get to bed early and wake up feeling more refreshed.
Finally, the lack of digital technology in the ancient world could have been beneficial to people’s physical, mental and spiritual health. Ancient Roman doctors believed that getting enough sleep was essential to wellbeing, and the lack of digital technology could have enabled people to get the necessary rest.
Sleep History
The exact time that ancient Romans went to bed has been lost to history. However, historians and archeologists have been able to piece together evidence to suggest that they went to bed at a similar time to people today — around 10:00 PM to midnight depending on the season and individual.
The lack of artificial light in the ancient world and the difficulty of completing tasks in the dark could have also contributed to this. In addition, ancient Roman manuals on how to lead a good life suggest that people were encouraged to go to bed earlier than people do today.
In terms of diet and nutrition, the ancient Romans ate light at bedtime, and they also believed that a glass of wine or some other alcoholic drink could help them get a better night’s sleep. Finally, the lack of digital technology in the ancient world could have enabled people to get the necessary rest.
Ancient Romans had a particular bedtime ritual they followed each night, which may have included taking a bath and anointing themselves in oils and perfume before getting into bed. They would also eat a light meal and enjoy a glass of wine before praying and meditating before finally getting into bed.
Overall, it is likely that ancient Romans went to bed at a similar time to people today — around 10 PM to midnight depending on the season and individual. They saw getting enough sleep as essential to good health and had a particular bedtime ritual they followed. The lack of digital technology in the ancient world could have also enabled people to get the necessary rest.
Interrupted Sleep
It is likely that the sleep of ancient Romans was occasionally interrupted. In ancient Rome, the night watchman would walk the streets of the city and would sound the alarm if there was any sign of danger. This could have meant that people were kept awake by the sound of the Horn blowing.
In addition, there were no curtains in the Roman Empire, meaning that light from the moon and stars could have infiltrated people’s homes at night. This could have made it difficult for people to get to sleep, particularly in the summer when the nights are lighter.
Furthermore, it is likely that the sleep of ancient Romans was regularly disrupted by the cries of infants. This was because child-rearing was generally done in a communal manner. Babies would often be placed in cradles in the middle of the room, meaning that the sound of their crying could have kept people awake.
Finally, the presence of animals could have impacted the sleep of ancient Romans. Households kept animals such as cats, dogs, and chickens for various factors and these animals could have made noise during the night, making it difficult for people to sleep.
Overall, it is likely that the sleep of ancient Romans was occasionally interrupted. This could have been due to the sound of the watchman, the presence of animals, and the light from the moon and stars infiltrating people’s homes. Babies could also have disrupted people’s sleep as child-rearing was done in a communal manner.
Sleep Aids
Ancient Romans had a few methods that they used to help them get to sleep. They often consumed certain foods at bedtime in the belief that they had calming properties that could help them sleep. These foods included fennel, lettuce and honey.
In addition, ancient Romans often used herbal remedies to help them sleep. These included Chamomile, which was believed to have calming properties, as well as Valerian and Lavender, which were believed to be effective sedatives.
Ancient Romans also used scented oils to help them sleep. Oils such as Juniper, lavender and rosemary were often used in rituals that were designed to promote calm and relaxation at night. Furthermore, their beds were often filled with rose petals to help promote sleep.
In ancient Rome, sleep was seen as an important part of a well-regulated life. As such, people made use of certain methods that were believed to aid sleep. These included consuming certain foods and drinks, using herbal remedies, and using scented oils.
