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Curiosities of ancient Rome (Artifact)

Artifacts is a collection of curiosities dedicated to objects left behind by the ancient Romans. This category features lesser-known facts and interesting information about archaeological finds, such as tools, weapons, coins, inscriptions, and everyday objects, which provide a deeper understanding of life in the Roman Empire.

Roman with beard on sculpture

Roman with a beard on a sculpture. The object dates back to the mid-2nd century CE; discovered in the Tomb of Licinius in Rome. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Roman with beard on sculpture

Roman sculpture depicting Mercury

Roman sculpture depicting Mercury (Greek Hermes), the messenger of the gods. The object was discovered in Hadrian’s villa and dates back to the 2nd century CE. It is a copy of a Greek original from around 330 BCE. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark). The facility was restored in the 18th century.

Roman sculpture depicting Mercury

Sulpture showing young man

Sculpture showing a young man; perhaps Narcissus, Paris or Adonis. The object dates back to the 2nd century CE. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Sulpture showing young man

Roman bust of Lucius Verus

Roman bust of Lucius Verus, who ruled from 161-169 CE. The object was discovered in the Tomb of Licinius in Rome. The emperor was depicted in the sculpture as an 8-year-old child in 138 CE, when he was adopted by Emperor Antoninus Pius. Lucius wears a paludamentum, a long woolen military cloak. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Roman bust of Lucius Verus

Roman sculpture showing Roman

Roman sculpture showing a Roman. Object dated to 40-30 BCE; discovered in the Temple of Hercules in Cori (Italy). The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Roman sculpture showing Roman

Limestone sculpture depicting lion

Limestone sculpture depicting a lion. The object dates back to the times of the Roman Empire. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark), and was discovered in northern Italy.

Limestone sculpture depicting lion

Herm of Mercury

Roman sculpture showing Mercury (Greek equivalent – Hermes), the so-called herma. Herms were born in Greece, where they traditionally depicted the very popular god Hermes (hence their name).

Herm of Mercury

Roman head of Hercules

Roman head of Hercules. The marble object is probably dated to the 2nd century CE and was discovered in Rome. According to researchers, the damage on the right side of the face indicates that the sculpture depicted a hero with his right hand raised and in the left he was holding his favorite weapon – a club. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Roman head of Hercules

Ancient sales receipt

Preserved Roman tablet confirming that a “full-grown North African girl in the best condition” was sold to the sailor Titus Memmius Montanus for 625 denarii, about two and a half times the basic annual salary of a marine.

Ancient sales receipt

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