{"id":8805,"date":"2023-10-19T10:05:20","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T09:05:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=8805"},"modified":"2023-10-19T10:05:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T09:05:20","slug":"what-were-visitors-in-ancient-rome-called","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/what-were-visitors-in-ancient-rome-called\/","title":{"rendered":"What Were Visitors In Ancient Rome Called"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In ancient Rome, visitors were known as hospes or hospites, which literally means a guest. This was especially common for those traveling from distant lands. Visitors in ancient Rome were welcomed with great hospitality and were esteemed to be of the highest status. They were showered with attention and expected to be treated with respect. In fact, those who traveled to Rome were viewed as a symbol of power, wealth, and even luck.<\/p>\n

Ancient Roman legend has it that when Aeneas, a famous Trojan war hero, arrived in Italy, he was welcomed with great respect by the local inhabitants. Later on, this legend was adopted by Roman Emperors and became a symbol of Roman hospitality. The legend tells that Aeneas brought a bundle of olive branches with him as an emblem of peace and prosperity. This traditions of welcoming visitors and giving them gifts continued throughout the entire Roman Empire.<\/p>\n

In ancient Rome, the class differences between visitors and citizens were conspicuous. People from different parts of the empire had different customs, traditions, and levels of wealth. As a consequence, the treatment of visitors from outside of the city was often very different from the treatment of his or her own citizens. For example, if a visitor was from a wealthier part of the empire, he would often be given gifts of money or food. On the other hand, if the visitor had little money, he was likely to receive very little in terms of gifts.<\/p>\n

The attitude of the common people in Rome towards visitors was often quite different from the attitude of the elite. The upper classes were more likely to show respect and hospitality to the visitors, while the lower classes were more likely to view them as a burden and an unwelcome distraction.<\/p>\n