Curiosities of ancient Rome (Artifact)

Roman mosaic showing a large number of different species of fish and marine animals. Object dated to the 3rd century CE; the artifact adorned the villa la Pineda in Vila-seca, in eastern Spain.

In 1863, during the excavations, the Villa Livia was discovered – archaeologists saw chambers full of unusual frescoes. Particularly noteworthy is the room with frescoes depicting a fabulous Mediterranean garden – and really, dear reader, when looking at the paintings, we get the impression that we are in a real garden, full of flowers, palm trees, pine trees and orange and lemon trees (it makes you want to reach out and pick this fruit).

Bust showing a Roman, probably from the beginning of the 2nd century CE – the reign of Emperor Caracalla. This is indicated by the hairstyle and beard. The artifact is in the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles (USA).

The preserved globe-shaped sculpture that crowned the obelisk is now in the Capitoline Museum in Rome. There are traces of gilding; the object is dated to the 1st century CE.

Bust of Julia Maesa, sister Julia Domna (wife of Emperor Septimius Severus) and grandmother of Elagabalus and Alexander Severus.

A beautiful mosaic floor showing mythical sea creatures and characters from Greek mythology; the work adorned the frigidarium in the baths of the Roman luxury estate Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily.

Beautiful restored Roman fresco showing wildlife and nature in the Nile Delta. The painting adorned a garden wall at Casa dei Ceii in Pompeii.

Roman tombstone of a horseman named Insus. It is located in the Lancaster Museum in England. The man belonged to the ala August unit. He is shown on the tombstone in a triumphant scene above the fallen barbarian.

An ancient agreement confirming the granting of a loan, from Roman Egypt, and dated May 16, 123 CE. A certain Sokration of Syene (present-day Aswan in southern Egypt) borrowed 109 drachmas to Marcus Annius Balbinus and his sister, Annia Olympias, to pay for an estate in lower Syene.

Roman mosaic showing ostriches being loaded onto a ship. Once captured, the wild animals were kept in large cages to keep them calm and to prevent them from being hurt.