Curiosities of ancient Rome (Artifact)
The world of ancient Romans abounded in a number of amazing curiosities and information. The source of knowledge about the life of the Romans are mainly works left to us by ancient writers or discoveries. The Romans left behind a lot of strange information and facts that are sometimes hard to believe.
Ancient dolium vessel
Dolium is a large terracotta vessel used from the time of the Republic until the Middle Ages to store or transport liquid goods such as wine and oil. It often had markings indicating its capacity (usually around 1000 liters) or the place of execution.
Roman marble bust of bearded man
Roman marble bust of a bearded man in a military outfit. Object dated to the middle of the 1st century CE.
Roman painting showing mouse
Roman fresco showing a mouse. The object was found in the Temple of Isis in Pompeii, Via del Tempio di Iside, near Palestra Sannitica. It was one of the first ancient buildings to be discovered in the 18th century. Most of the original paintings and sculptures are now in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman fresco showing trireme
Roman fresco showing the trireme during the naumachia (sea battle). The painting was found in the temple of Isis in Pompeii. It is now located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Statue of Gallic soldier
A statue of a Gallic soldier in Roman robes, holding a Gallic shield. It is suspected that he was a Gallic aristocrat recruited into Roman auxiliary. The object was found in 1850 in Vachères, east of Avignon. It is now in the Lapidary Museum in Avignon (France). Sculpture dated to the 1st BCE – 1st century CE.
Head of young Roman
The head of a young Roman – called De Bénévent – from around 50 BCE. The object is made of bronze and copper and was found at Herculaneum.
Stamp of legio X Fretensis
Fragment of material with an imprint of the Roman stamp “LG X F”, made by the X Fretensis legion while the unit was stationed in Judea. It contains images of a warship and a boar – symbols of the legion. The object dates back to 1-2 CE. Currently, the artifact is in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.