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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.
Partially preserved marble sculpture of a certain Diadumenos, who adorns his head with a headband after winning an athletics competition. The object is dated to the 1st century CE; is on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Roman bronze statue probably depicting Hercules as a young man. The eyes of the sculpture are made of blue glass. According to researchers, once a figure could hold a bow and an arrow. The object was most likely discovered in Tivoli, in central Italy. The sculpture is dated to the 1st BCE – 1st century CE. Currently, the artifact is in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Denmark.
Fragment of a Roman mosaic showing the goddess Luna on a chariot. The object is dated to the 3rd century CE and was discovered in Orbe-Boscéaz, Switzerland.
Fragment of a Roman relief from Hadrian’s Mausoleum depicting Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It is located in Glyptotek Ny Carlsberg in Copenhagen.
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.
