Roma Aeterna: How The Legacy Of The Roman Empire Lives On Through Memes

In the history of human civilization, memes, as we know them today, are a relatively recent development. While memes such as Kilroy was Here (from the 1940s) have been cited as some of their earliest incarnations, we may never truly know how far back "meme culture" as a concept really goes. For now, humanity can only make modern interpretations of the memes of civilizations of the distant past. Of the thousands of states that have risen and fallen throughout the years, one of the most memorable empires in history is, of course, Ancient Rome.

Spanning from 753 BCE to a host of disputed end dates (395 AD, 410 AD, 476 AD, 1204 AD, 1453 AD), they are among the most influential empires in human history, with their legacy spanning to this day. One place that the Romans have also conquered is in memes, specifically those about history. On every history-related forum, whether it be the /his/ board on 4chan or the /r/historymemes subreddit on Reddit, memes about the Romans are abundant. But, how did this phenomenon happen? Why is it that centuries after Roman society's last vestiges fell, they are fondly remembered in modern internet memes? Let's examine why Roman memes have become so prevalent compared to contemporary historical memes.

Memes of the Roman Legion

Roman history is long and complicated. As a result, there is a difference between memes that pertain to Rome "overall" and those that delve into specific events or individuals. The most popular, nonspecific Roman meme is one related to that of the Roman Legions. What once was a symbol of imperial might and conquest has remained so, as the Legionaries are often found in memes meant to depict peak performance. Often portrayed in memes for their engineering feats, military prowess and a general distaste for barbarians, they are ubiquitous in the realm of Roman memes. The strength of these vaguer memes is that they require less context and more value from the macro itself. The actual history does not need to be understood for it to be entertaining. Keep this point in mind, as it is imperative to ultimately understanding why certain Roman-related memes have found such success.

GAIVS. JVLIVS. CAESAR.

While the successful legionary memes are more commonplace, that doesn't mean there aren't more specific topics that garner a cult following. These variants generally follow notable events or individuals that have impacted Rome's history. Perhaps the two most memed events are the story of Julius Caesar and the Fall of Constantinople. Unlike memes on Roman legions, these events require prior knowledge and a certain level of context to fully grasp. Caesar's memes often highlight his "larger than life" exploits in Gaul, the fall of the Republic, his assassination and the civil war that followed. In memes, Caesar is depicted in a romantic, if not larger-than-life light. His assassination, in particular, is memed as a tragic yet dramatic end.

Everything about Caesar in memes is reflective of how people remember him today. Since memes are ultimately about conveying an emotion or idea, Caesar's feeling brings with him his power. Whether it be in the context of his life or used in a more general manner, Caesar's depiction in meme culture can only be described as a Chad. This exaggeration is further cemented through videos such as Dovahhatty's "Unbiased History of Rome" series, which employs the use of Wojaks to distinguish between the protagonists of Roman history from its enemies.

The Fall of Constantinople (1453)

On the flip side of the triumphant and bold Julius Caesar is what many would consider the most tragic event in Roman history: the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, marking the Roman Empire's end (at least according to many). This event is marked as a sad but defiant end of an ancient empire. Macros of crying and sadness over the number "1453" give it an Alamo-like memorialization. However, unlike Caesar, who is perhaps the most well-known figure in Roman history (for reasons that will be addressed later), the Fall of Constantinople was not quite as well-known until its proliferation through memes and media.

Did Rome Fall with Roma?

What is important to note for both Caesar and Constantinople memes alike is that, despite requiring a substantial amount of context to understand, both of these memes have seen success on both niche and broad communities, such as /r/roughromanmemes and /r/historymemes. Yet, the critical question remains: Why Rome? While these memes have tangible ideas and emotions behind them, what is it about Roman history that makes it such great meme material? To answer this question, we'll need to take a quick look at history, specifically how those before the advent of internet memes viewed the Romans.

While an in-depth analysis of this is best saved for an academic paper, in short, the main reason why Ancient Romans have remained so prevalent in memes is simply through media. Modern media, such as HBO's Rome, YouTube series, such as the previously mentioned "Unbiased History of Rome," and video games like Creative Assembly's Rome: Total War have introduced thousands to Roman society like no academic article ever could. Simultaneously, this stylized depiction of Rome that shows off Caesar's dramatic life or the power of its legions leaves some historical accuracy to be desired.

Furthermore, this phenomenon extends back to the 15th century with the Renaissance and plays, such as Julius Caesar by Shakespeare. The romantic, exaggerated and emotional depiction of Ancient Rome has survived for centuries, and that emotion is why it translates over into modern memes so well. Historical accuracy, while sometimes dubious in memes, is in the modern era combined with dramatics. However, the legacy of the Romans through media has given it a much louder voice in the memesphere.

Ultimately, Roman memes are not so much about the history of the Romans themselves, but rather the evocative and grandiose stories behind them that have made them so successful. From Caesar's highs to the lows of Constantinople's fall and the march of the legions in-between, the timeline of Roman history is remembered in memes as if it were a story, not too dissimilar from how modern and Renaissance artisans viewed them. After all, you can't spell "romantic" without Roman.

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