Ancient Rome and Greece Rome had many rulers. Julius Caesar is one of the more famous dictators. After he emerged victorious from a brutal civil war, he declared himself dictator for life. The consuls did not take too generously to this and a group of them showed their distaste by murdering Caesar. After another decade and a half of civil war Caesar's grandnephew Augustus was the victor in the brutal civil war. He claimed he restored the republic. He now controlled all of Rome--- including the empire. He became the first emperor of Rome. Roman religion is deeply rooted in an ancient belief in spirits. They believed that spirits guided peoples lives. over time, the spirits became gods and goddesses over the Romans. Every one had special powers. The chief god of the Romans was Jupiter, he controlled the sky, daylight, and weather. They also had temples for their gods, at altars in courtyards, sheep were sacrificed and gifts were left to please the god. Often people had shrines in their homes that they prayed to every morning and left food at in order to please the gods and ask for their protection. The Roman civilization was very cultured. People were always explored the world, searching for ways to explain its secrects. Artists took note of the world they saw in paintings, mosaics, and sculpltures. Books, poems, and plays came from writers. Historians wrote about Rome’s origins, emperors, wars, and even everyday life. The Romans perfected the art of cameo-making, a cameo is a stone with a design carved on it. Paintings in homes were often of landscapes or scenes from mythology. Pieces of colored marble is what was used to make mosaics. Roman doctors performed operations and prescribed medications, most of which were herbal remedies. Garlic was mixed into potions to treat leprosy. Ancient Greece was ruled by aristocrats. Aristocrats were the richest