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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.
The Croatian city of Zadar (Iadera) was founded in the middle of the 1st century BCE as a colony in which Roman veterans settled. The city underwent gradual development, and its centre of social, economic and political life was in the forum in the centre of the city. It was established during the reign of the first emperor Octavian Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE).
The remains of a Roman small theatre are in Pula (Croatia). The object is dated to the 1st century CE and is located on the slope under the Castle. The theatre could accommodate from 4 to 5 thousand viewers, that is the city’s population at that time.
On the island of Pag in Croatia, on the outskirts of the town of Kolan, there are old wells dating back to Roman times. They were part of the Roman aqueduct leading to the city of Caska. The wells guaranteed a source of clean water for the local community.
In Sicily, about 5 km from the city of Piazza Armerina, are the remains of a luxurious Roman villa, Villa Romana del Casale. This place is unusual because many beautiful mosaics have been preserved. The monument has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Madauros is a former Roman city which remains are not far from the modern Algerian city – M’daourouch. The Roman writer Apuleius was born in this city.
A well-preserved Roman gate in Lugo (Spain). This city is the only centre in the world that is surrounded by completely intact Roman walls from the 3rd century CE.
“Mount of Claudius” (Mons Claudianus) was a Roman quarry in the eastern desert of Egypt. This place owes its name to Emperor Claudius, who started mining as first. Grey granite (granodiorite), extremely valuable in ancient Rome, was mined there. The mine had its own garrison, shelters for civilians and workers or a supply and transport centre.
Roman amphitheater in El Jem (ancient city of Thysdrus, northern Tunisia) is one of the best-preserved buildings of this type from the times of the Roman Empire. It was built in the years 230-238 CE, and the initiative to create the building probably came from the proconsul and the later emperor Gordian I. Since 1979, the building has been on the UNESCO list of protected monuments.
