Curiosities of ancient Rome (Artifact)

Bronze hand of Jupiter Dolichenus, an enigmatic deity whose cult spread from Syria throughout the Roman Empire. The object is 22.5 cm long and was likely part of a statue of the deity. The artifact was discovered in Ćuprija, Serbia; it is currently housed at the Jagodina Museum in Serbia.

In Varna, Bulgaria, in 2024, a tourist noticed an unusual table at a beach bar. It turned out to be a 1,700-year-old Roman sarcophagus (measuring 90 cm x 235 cm x 75 cm) that was being used as a table.

Roman ring embossed with the image of the goddess Fortuna. The object is dated to 1st BCE – 1st century CE.

Roman metal vessel with remnants of enameled decoration. The object was found in a grave in Pinguentum (present-day Buzet, Croatia), but was made in Britain or Gaul in the 2nd century CE. The artifact is located at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

An extraordinary ancient artifact has been discovered off the coast of Sicily, near the Aegadian Islands: the bronze prow of a Roman warship, known as a rostrum. This rare find directly links us to the naval battle off the Aegadian Islands (241 BCE), which marked the end of the First Punic War (264-241 BCE). Such relics offer a glimpse into ancient naval warfare and the might of the fleets of the time.

Beautifully decorated antique glass bowl with an ancient Greek inscription: “Drink to live forever, for many years.” The object was discovered in a 4th-century Roman cemetery in Slovenia. The artifact is currently housed at the Ljubljana City Museum in Slovenia.

Preserved Roman tap and water tank. This nearly 2,000-year-old object was discovered in Pompeii.

Roman floor mosaic depicting the goddess Diana, made in the eastern Mediterranean. Dated to the 4th-5th century CE, the piece is located at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.

The Bolton Museum in Bolton, England, houses a nearly 2,000-year-old Roman military sun hat—one of only three such items preserved in the world. Made of wool, it dates from around the 2nd century CE.

Leda and Swan in Roman mosaic; the object dates to the 2nd-3rd century CE. In Greek mythology, Zeus, enchanted by the beautiful Leda, took the form of a swan and approached her on the Eurotas River. Their union gave birth to, among others, Helen of Troy, whose beauty led to the Trojan War. The motif of Leda and the Swan has fascinated artists for centuries – from ancient painting to the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Rubens. The object is located in the Archaeological Museum in Old Paphos, Cyprus.