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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.
Roman fresco showing Dirke tied to the horns of a bull. According to mythology, Dirke was subjected to this death penalty by the sons of Antiope – Amphion and Zetus – the first wife of the king of Thebes, Lycus. Dirke, as Lykos’ second wife, took revenge on her predecessor. The facility is located in Pompeii. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman portrait showing a woman. This incredibly realistic portrait was made using mosaics and dates back to the 1st century CE. Artifact discovered in Pompeii; the object is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman sculpture depicting Homer. The object is a Roman copy, from the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 CE), of a Greek original from the 4th century BCE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman fresco showing a pair of dancing centaurs. The object dates back to the 1st century CE; discovered in Stabiae. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Preserved fragment of a wall from Pompeii with an enigmatic engraved message. We read: “If you ever had the opportunity to remark with how much talent the young Sepumius plays the snake game, whether you are a spectator of the theatre or have a passion for horses, may you always keep the pans of the scale in balance, wherever you are”.
Roman sculpture depicting Alexander the Great or another Hellenic ruler. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman street in Pompeii, with still well-preserved cobblestones. The construction of Roman roads was a true masterpiece of Roman engineering. The road-building technique was taken over by the Etruscans and initially closely imitated. Over time, new technologies began to be adopted.
Fragment of a Roman fresco with black inscriptions. The painting was found on the left wall of the corridor leading to the ludus gladiatorius. As it turns out, the text had pleasant content: “To Popidius Rufus, unsurpassed organizer of gladiator games, to the protectors of the colonists, with well wishes”. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Castellum Aquae in Pompeii was a water dispenser that supplied water to the entire city. The building was located at the highest point of Pompeii (42 meters) and was connected to the Serino aqueduct.
In central Italy, near the village of San Casciano dei Bagni, unusual finds were discovered in the area of a former Etruscan pool fed by hot springs. Among the discovered artifacts are bronze ears that ancient Romans put on – according to researchers – to ask the gods to hear their prayers. The finds also include sculptures showing body parts, e.g. phallus, womb, breasts, leg or arm.
