Curiosities of ancient Rome

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The world of the ancient Romans was rich in extraordinary, and sometimes even surprising, facts. We draw our knowledge of Roman daily life, customs, and mentality primarily from works left by ancient writers and historians. It is thanks to them that we discover information that is astonishing today – sometimes even hard to believe. Below are some interesting facts that reveal a lesser-known and less obvious side of the Roman world.

I encourage you to submit your own suggestions and to report any corrections or inaccuracies.

Silver mines – adeffered death sentence?

Following its victory in the Second Punic War (201 BCE) and the conquest of the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, the Roman Republic – and subsequently the Empire – began the intensive exploitation of…Więcej

Twelve faces, zero answers. The greatest mystery in Roman archaeology

The Romans left behind thousands of texts, inscriptions, and objects that allow us today to reconstruct a surprising number of details about their lives. And yet there is one object whose purpose we still cannot…Więcej

Face of Roman child from 1,800 years ago

In 1878, during archaeological work in Paris, a Roman sarcophagus containing the burial of a small child was discovered. The find comes from the area of ancient Lutetia, a Roman city that developed on the…Więcej

Divine hare

There are six species of hare found in Europe (Lepus europaeus, L. timidus, L. granatensis, L. castroviejoi, L. corsicanus, and L. capensis). Unlike their close relatives, rabbits, they have never been domesticated. Although their population…Więcej

Nero’s night watchmen. How the vigiles fought fires and crime

Densely populated Rome was a city under constant threat from fire. Tall, tightly packed residential buildings and the widespread use of fire in everyday life meant that fires ranked among the greatest dangers faced by…Więcej

“Patcham Woman” – mysterious woman from Roman Britain

The “Patcham Woman” is one of the most intriguing figures from the Roman period in Britain. Her remains were discovered in 1936 in Patcham, now part of Brighton, southern England. Bone analysis, DNA testing, and…Więcej

Emperor who invented new letters: Claudius’ forgotten alphabet reform

Emperor Claudius, regarded by his contemporaries as a harmless eccentric, a stammerer, and a reclusive scholar, surprised Rome after unexpectedly coming to power in 41 CE with a decision that even many enthusiasts of antiquity…Więcej

Gladiator games under Trajan – thousands of warriors in arena

During the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117 CE), gladiatorial games reached a massive scale. One of the most spectacular events was the games held in 113 CE, during which 2,000 gladiators fought in the arena…Więcej

Roman bronze medallion with Perseus and Andromeda discovered in India

A small bronze disk depicting Perseus freeing Andromeda is an interesting example of a Roman artifact found outside the Roman Empire. The artifact dates to the 1st century CE and was discovered during archaeological excavations…Więcej

One last moment without a guard: A Germanic captive in a Roman latrine

A Roman spectacle began long before the first roar of the crowd, before the arena gates opened, before the animals, gladiators, and condemned prisoners were brought into view. It began behind the scenes, in corridors,…Więcej

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