Curiosities of ancient Rome (Artifact)

Roman wall fresco depicting Amor fighting with Pan in front of Silenus – the deity of nature. The clash of these mythical idols was in ancient times a symbol of the struggle between love and desire. The object was found in Pompeii, in the house of Meleager. It is now housed in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Fragment of colored glass with an image of a fish, which dates back to 2nd BCE – 1st century CE. Object found in Egypt.

Bas-relief shows the profile of a figure with long hair, wearing a diadem decorated with leaves and bunches of grapes. The head rests on a wicker basket, partially covered with goatskin.

Sculpture depicts emperor Octavian Augustus dressed as Pontifex Maximus (the highest priest). He is wearing a toga and his head is covered. His feet are shod in calcei patricii (shoes worn by the upper class of Roman society). By the leg there is a container (capsa) for official documents. The right arm of the princeps indicates that he is in the process of making an offering, holding a sacrificial chalice (patera), ready for a libation.

Roman toiletry bag of patrician. The makeup in ancient Rome mainly included the face and neck and shoulders. These parts of the body were sprinkled with white powder or pearl powder. Just like today, the illuminating and covering powder was supposed to cover discolouration, brighten the skin and give it uniformity.

Roman tombstone that commemorates a dog named Aminnaracus. The object is dated to the 1st-2nd century CE; found in Rome. The tombstone proves how strongly the Romans were attached to their pets.

Roman bas-relief showing portraits of a boy and a girl. The crescent moon and the stars around the girl’s head suggest that she is in heaven or that she remained a virgin until her death. The object is dated to the end of the 2nd century CE and is in the collection of the Denmark National Museum in Copenhagen.

Stone of Carausius is a preserved stone from the end of the 3rd century CE, on which the name of the usurper Carausius was engraved. Interestingly, at the other end of the stone is the name of Emperor Constantine. After the fall of Carausius, his name was removed from public places (damnatio memoriae), and the stone was simply turned over and his inscription was hidden.

Lycurgus Cup (also known as the Lycurgus chalice) is an example of the advancement of Roman culture. Depending on the angle at which the sun’s rays fall on the cup, the decorations of the vessel change in different colours. When lit from the front, they are green. However, with light coming from the rear, they turn red. Thus, it can be said that the Romans were pioneers of nanotechnology!

Small Roman glass basket that is approximately 1,800 years old. Object found in Syria.