This Week in Ancient History

Posted by Robin Fowler May 14, 2006

May 15 - The Roman celebration of the Mercuralia was held in honor of Mercury, the Roman god of commerce. On this day, merchants would sprinkle their ships, their goods, and even their own heads with water from the well at the Porta Capena, one of the main entry gates into Rome. A superstitious bunch, the Romans did this to please their god and ensure safe travel for the merchants, and abundant business for the coming year.

May 20, 526 AD - An earthquake rocks Syria and Antioch (an area located in modern Turkey), killing upwards of 300,000 people.