Curiosities of ancient Rome (Artifact)

Preserved Roman plaque with an inscription commemorating the deceased, on which the words known to us are placed: “may the earth rest lightly on you”. Written on a stone in Latin: “Sit tibi terra levis”. The object is located in the National Museum of Roman Art in Merida (Spain).

Marble bust of a man, possibly over the age of 40. Object dated to the 1st century CE; currently on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

In today’s Hungary, in Aquincum (today’s Budapest), a tombstone inscription of an officer named Aelius Silvanus, who was a centurion of the legion II Adiutrix, was discovered. This legion was founded by Vespasian in 70 CE.

Beautifully preserved Roman marble relief that dates back to the 1st century CE. This type of decoration was often found in private gardens of Roman houses. The stone shows Menada, the worshiper of Dionysus (Bacchus) and Silenus, the god of nature, who also accompanied the god of wine and fun. The object was discovered in Pompeii and is now on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Roman gold ring with engraved parrot in green chalcedony. Scientists believe that the parrot belongs to the species rose-ringed parakeet – a bird that occurs, among others in India and which Alexander the Great had a chance to see. The object is dated to the 1st century CE.

Preserved plaster casts of the bodies of Pompeii inhabitants. To this day, we can admire the remains of Pompeii inhabitants buried alive. And this is due to the brilliant method of Giuseppe Fiorelli.

Golden ring of the Roman officer Legio V Macedonica – dated at the turn of the 2nd and 3rd century CE.

In most studies, the equipment of Roman legionary is discussed in terms of armament, and less attention is paid to items that facilitated everyday life in camps and forts or those that were useful in the art of survival. An extremely important element of the professional equipment of a Roman legionary was the so-called dolabra.

A knife is one of the oldest tools known to man. The invention of the Palaeolithic era helped to survive and later facilitated the life of the human species in conditions of settled existence. What about folding knives? Folders and pocket knives are used today, inter alia, in gardening, rescue, military, and tourism… The exchange could be long.

In 2008, David Barker found a bronze knife handle with erotic elements. The handle shows two men and a woman having a sexual act. This strange Roman specimen was found in Britain in Lincolnshire.