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.

How much did blue paint on the walls of Pompeii cost?

A study published in the journal Heritage Science shows how expensive one of the most characteristic pigments used in the decoration of Pompeian houses – the famous Egyptian blue (called caeruleum) – was. The analysis…Więcej

Music-making in ancient Rome

Within the Roman aristocracy, music was considered a rather common pastime, but among ordinary people, making music, singing, and dancing were popular pastimes. Music could be heard in the theater and at feasts. It accompanied…Więcej

From Popina to McDonald’s: Roman fast food before the neon sign

In Rome, “eating out” was not a luxury but a daily necessity in a big city. Street bars selling ready-made food, described by archaeologists as thermopolia, operated from stone counters with large jars (dolia) set…Więcej

Feast with lampreys

Lampreys (Petromyzontiformes) are jawless, predatory aquatic animals that can grow to over a meter in length. They are mostly parasites – they bite into the victim’s body using sharp teeth set in their round mouths.…Więcej

Fibula in form of swastika

Roman fibula (cloth clasp) in the form of a swastika. This item is in the collection of the Archaeological Museum in Gunzenhausen, Germany.Więcej

Roman spoon and fork

The presented object – a Roman spoon and fork – dating from around the 3rd century CE and made of silver. It measures 16.2 cm in length and is currently in the collection of the…Więcej

Roman folding knife with bone handle

Roman folding knife with a bone handle and a bronze or iron blade. This item is on display at the Museum of Art and History in Geneva, Switzerland.Więcej

Pair of Roman earrings made of gold and semi-precious stones

Pair of Roman earrings made of gold and semi-precious stones from the 3rd/4th century CE. The objects are located in the Archaeological Museum of the University of Münster (Germany).Więcej

Curule chair

Curule chair (sella curulis) is a folding stool with crossed straight or curved legs, originally backless. It was known to many ancient cultures of the Mediterranean basin, including the Greeks and Egyptians (it reached China…Więcej

Ancient Roman bronze stylus

This ancient Roman bronze stylus, discovered in Tiel (central Netherlands), is a small, elongated writing instrument used during the Roman Empire. Made of bronze, it has a slender shape – one end is pointed, while…Więcej

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