Curiosities of ancient Rome (Artifact)

Roman fresco showing the cyclop Polyphemus and the sea nymph Galatea in a loving embrace. It is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. The painting adorned one of the houses in Pompeii (VII, 4, 48).

Beautiful Roman mosaic from the 1st century CE, showing a ribbon. It is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia (Italy).

An acrobat on a Roman mosaic found in Volubilis, Morocco. The subject shows a man riding a horse in the opposite direction.

Roman bust of a charioteer made of ivory. Researchers suggest that the sculpture may depict Emperor Caracalla. The object was probably found in Arles, France, where there are also remains of a Roman amphitheater.

Roman tombstone commemorating Quartulus, a child who worked as a miner. Died at the age of 4. The boy is shown with a pickaxe and a basket to carry material. Object found in Jaén, Spain; it is now in the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid.

The 9-meter-high Roman mosaic was discovered in Aquincum (now Budapest, Hungary) in 2016. The mosaic commemorates the name of Marcus Veccius, who, while in office, built a bathhouse with a gymnasium at his own expense (sua pecunia faciunda curavit).

Dog’s remains from the 1st century CE. The owner had to respect his pet very much; the animal was buried with the vessel and head on a piece of leather. The tomb was discovered in Cologne (Germany).

Roman fresco from Pompeii showing a tied black dog. The object was decorated with a Roman street bar (called thermopolium) in Regio V. The painting was found without the words CAVE CANEM (“Beware of the dog”), but the image of the black dog was certainly intended to scare off intruders.

Roman altar to goddess Disciplina. The object was found at the Roman camp at Birrens, southern Scotland. Disciplina was the goddess of education, training and orderly life. In fact, the goddess was the personification of good values. Worshiping the goddess by soldiers was to prove their high combat value and lead a good life.