Curiosities of ancient Rome (Artifact)

Roman mosaic from Pompeii showing drinking birds. It is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Roman ceramic jug. Dated to the 3rd century CE.

Rare figurine depicting the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger. The object is dated to the 2nd-3rd century CE. 

The sculpture of the boxer is one of the two found during the construction of the Quirinal Theater in Rome. Both were buried very carefully, perhaps in order to hide them from looters. The original location of where the boxer statue stood also remains a mystery. Perhaps it decorated the baths of Constantine, several hundred meters away, of which, unfortunately, there is no trace of it today.

The “Four Seasons” mosaic was discovered in a triclinium domus found in Ravenna during an excavation in 1993. It shows the personifications of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and a figure playing the flute.

Roman vase made of terracotta. Object dated to the 2nd-3rd century CE; found in Sicily.

Roman bottle made of amber glass. Dated on the 1st-2nd century CE.

A Greco-Roman sculpture depicting a little Hercules choking snakes. Object dated to 2nd BCE – 2nd century CE.

Roman mosaic showing a boxing duel, described in Virgil’s “Aeneid”. Entellus of Sicily and young Dares fought each other, in which the latter failed (wounded, shown on the right). The description of the fight takes place in Aeneid in book V.400-405. Entellus was rewarded with a bull.