Curiosities of ancient Rome (Other)

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Impressive geographic knowledge of ancient Greeks

The geographical knowledge of the ancient Greeks was truly impressive. Already in antiquity, prominent Greek minds held the theory of the spherical Earth as true. Moreover, numerous expeditions of discovery and information were collected, which led to the development of ... Read more

Mummification process on example of Fayum mummy

Animation showing the mummification process on the example of the Fayum mummy from the 1st century CE. The Egyptians used mummification to preserve the body after death. Mummification began with the removal of internal organs (most often only the heart ... Read more

Domitian on baldness

Already in ancient times, baldness was an unpleasant problem that men had to deal with. According to Suetonius, Emperor Domitian (he ruled in 81-96 CE) also had to deal with the loss of hair. Suetonius says that Domitian was even ... Read more

Map showing total of 11,655 Roman settlements

Map showing a total of 11,655 settlements that were founded or managed by the ancient Romans. The map was made by Harvard University as part of the DARMC PROJECT project. The settlements are grouped into three categories: a certain city ... Read more

Initium aestatis

Initium aestatis in Latin literally means “the beginning of summer” and it was not a holiday for the Romans – confirmation is the lack of such information in both Fasti Antiates Maiores, the official Roman calendar of public holidays, and ... Read more

Weapons made of Lower Silesia iron could scare the Romans

In the Roman period, Lower Silesia was one of the most dynamically operating metallurgical centres in the Barbaricum. One of the largest metallurgical settlements from this period was discovered in Tarchalice (administrative district of Wołów). The iron was smelted in ... Read more

Precious right hand

During the time of Emperor Constantine I (born on February 27, c. 280 in Nis – present-day Serbia, died May 22, 337; Emperor from 306; during his reign, the Roman Empire was in its heyday), Athanasius the Great (born in ... Read more

Alchemy in Greek and Roman times

Although medieval and ancient alchemy shares many common elements, it is difficult to find a clear continuity between the Greco-Roman and medieval traditions. One of the main differences is that the first one was based mainly on philosophical subjects and ... Read more

Are you up with your left foot again?

Greco-Roman texts provide a great deal of information about the ancients’ views on religious matters, many of which refer to very mundane matters. Often the superstitions of ordinary people from two thousand years ago are present and very popular superstitions. ... Read more

Polar bears in ancient Rome?

According to the message of Titus Calpurnius Siculus, a Roman poet from the 3rd century CE, in ancient Rome, in the arenas of amphitheatres, bears were supposed to appear hunting for seals. The writer specifically mentions here an event during ... Read more
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