Curiosities of ancient Rome (Discoveries)

Ceremonial chariot was discovered during excavations of a Roman villa just outside the walls of ancient Pompeii. The four-wheeled vehicle, made of wood and iron, with bronze and tin decorations, was preserved almost perfectly when the city was buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE. In 2018, it was discovered in a portico opposite the stables, where archaeologists found the remains of three horses, one still in harness.

In the Archaeological Museum in Naples, in a small side room in which a collection of ancient gems is exhibited, there is probably one of the most unusual exhibits – the so-called Tazza Farnese – a stone plate with a diameter of about 20 cm. Whenever I look into Naples and stand before this masterpiece, I can’t get over the artistry of former craftsmen. But beyond beauty, there is something else about it: an amazing story that would be a good script for a fascinating movie.