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Curiosities of ancient Rome

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.

Roman silver phallus pendant

In 2020, a well-preserved Roman phallus-shaped pendant was discovered in one of the English fields. The object is dated from the 1st-5th century CE and it is made of silver. This year, the artifact was declared a national treasure in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Roman silver phallus pendant

In ancient Rome, proscriptions were used

Proscriptions (proscriptio) in Roman law consisted in entering into the list of outlaws – political opponents and, consequently, their property and sentencing to exile. The children and grandchildren of the proscribed person were marked by infamy, that is, shame.

Gaius Octavian firing proscription letters, Rene Francis

Artabanus’ letter to Tiberius

The reign of Tiberius (14-37 CE) was for ordinary people in the provinces a period of peace and good state management, but for the spheres of the Roman aristocracy, a time of increasing tyranny and terror. This was largely due to the influence at the Roman court achieved by Sejanus – the praetorian prefect – who sought to seize power and surrounded himself with trusted people.

Portrait of Tiberius on the sacrificial vessel

Cabbage goo – drug of Cato

Cato the Elder, author of the work De agri cultura, recommended the use of cabbage to compress wounds, swelling, burns and even bone dislocations. In turn, for arthritis, he recommended chopped, raw cabbage mixed with coriander and cured cabbage mixed with vinegar and honey.

Bust of an older man – the so-called patrician Torlonia. Considered to be a likeness of Cato the Elder

Black stone from Emessa

Elagabalus was less than fourteen years old when he ascended the throne on May 16, 218 CE. Lost, he sought support from a god – El Gabal, whom he had served until recently. He brought from Emessa the black stone symbolizing Baal (most likely a piece of a meteorite; Herodian mentions that it “fell from heaven”) and made sacrifices before him, killing sheep and cows with his own hands.

Black stone from Emessa on a Roman coin

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