Curiosities of ancient Rome (Artifact)

Ancient handbag made of copper alloy in which coins were carried. The object is dated to the 2nd century CE. To spend the money, the purse had to be removed from the shoulder. The artifact is in the Kurpfälzisches Museum in southwest Germany.

Amazing Roman mosaic showing a tigress attacking a calf. The object is dated around the 4th century CE; is in the Capitoline Museums in Rome.

Roman mosaic showing “surprised” Neptune in a chariot. Object dated to the 2nd century CE. The artifact is currently in the Musee des Beaux-Arts et d’Archeologie in Besançon (eastern France).

Marble statue showing Hercules’ muscular torso. The object is dated to the 1st century CE and is a copy of a Greek original from the mid-5th century BCE. The sculpture is on display at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Fragment of the Roman floor mosaic showing the transport of captured wild animals that were to occur in the arena. The mosaic is located in Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily and consists of many hunting scenes in North Africa.

Roman mosaic floor with images of the seasons. Winter was shown with a crown of branches on its head; Autumn with green and yellow leaves; Summer with a crown of thorns; when Spring with red flowers. Additionally, the mosaic features images of birds and fish. The mosaic adorned the entire floor of one of the many rooms in the luxurious villa Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily.

A preserved Roman helmet of the Niederbieber type, made of bronze. The object was discovered during excavation works carried out in an ancient well in Rainau-Buch (southwest Germany) in 1979.

Roman mosaic showing a group of women playing musical instruments (e.g. flutes, bowls, kitara, hydraulis). The object is dated to the 4th century CE; discovered at Maryamin, in central Syria.

Roman fresco from Pompeii shows the nymph Io (left, with golden horns) who is greeted by Isis in Egypt. The goddess was shown as the hostess, with her sacred animal – the serpent – on her lap. Io is carried by the river god, and according to Greek mythology in Egypt, she gave birth to a son from her relationship with Zeus – Epaphus – who became the king of Egypt.

Roman painting showing Liber Pater and Libera – Roman deities personifying freedom. Along with the images of the gods on the wall of the house are the names of two characters: C. Julius Polybius and C. Lollius Fuscoto. It is therefore possible that it was a kind of political billboard in ancient times, perhaps painted for the time of the elections.