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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.

Roman locks

Roman locks that were discovered in cities destroyed by Vesuvius in 79 CE. The objects are made of bronze and date back to the 1st century CE. The artifacts are in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

Roman locks

Roman tombstone of Marcus Antonius Trophimus and his wife

Roman tombstone of Marcus Antonius Trophimus and his wife. The images of the deceased couple were placed on the stone. The man was a merchant in woolen coats and belonged to the Augustales college, which honored the memory of Emperor Augustus. Object dated to the reign of Hadrian (117-138 CE).

Roman tombstone of Marcus Antonius Trophimus and his wife

Roman altar Carrick Stone

Roman altar, now called the Carrick Stone, which is located in Scotland. The object is dated to the 60s of the 2nd century CE. It is located halfway between Glasgow and Falkirk, close to Antoninus’ wall.

Roman altar Carrick Stone

Roman marble bust of man

Roman marble bust of a man. The object is dated to the 3rd century CE. The sculpture was improved in the 4th and 6th centuries. The artifact was discovered in the agora in Thessalonica. The object is in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (Greece).

Roman marble bust of man

Roman fresco showing group of nymphs with Bacchus

Roman fresco showing a group of nymphs with a crowned and seated Bacchus, the god of wild nature, vines and wine. The object is dated to the 1st century BCE and was discovered in Pompeii. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

Roman fresco showing group of nymphs with Bacchus

Partridge with mirror on basket

Roman mosaic showing a partridge lifting a mirror from a basket. The object is dated to the first half of the 1st century BCE. Artifact found in the Labyrinth House in Pompeii; it is now in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Partridge with mirror on basket

Roman fresco showing copulating couple

Roman fresco showing a copulating couple. The painting was part of a larger composition in one of the bedrooms (cubiculum). Object dated to the 1st century CE; possibly found in Villa Arianna in Stabiae. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

Roman fresco showing copulating couple

Roman priest depicted in fresco

Roman priest depicted in a fresco. The man holds a crown of roses and a snake in his hands. The painting was discovered in the Temple of Isis in Pompeii. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

Roman priest depicted in fresco

Roman gynecological speculum and others

Item number 15 in the exhibition is a Roman gynecological speculum (speculum magnum matricis). Greco-Roman writers mention that medics recommended the use of such an instrument in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the vagina and uterus. However, as it turns out, many such devices have not survived our times. Mainly because they were made of bronze, so the material was used to make other products.

Roman gynecological speculum (marked with number 15) and others

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