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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.
Clivus Capitolinus
Clivus Capitolinus (“Capitoline Ascension”) road was the main road to the Roman Capitol. The road continued Via Sacra and stretched from the Forum Romanum to the Temple of Jupiter the Greatest. Clivus Capitolinus was the last and most important leg of the Roman triumphal route. It is worth mentioning that this road was one of the oldest in Rome.
Ancient abortion measures
In antiquity, salt, resin, honey and mouse droppings were considered abortives. At the Queen’s court, Cleopatra VII also used extracts of white poplar, juniper berries and fennel. Interestingly, modern medicine has confirmed the strong contraceptive properties of these plants.
Amor’s digital reconstruction on dolphin
Digital reconstruction of a Roman sculpture from the 2nd century CE performed by “Chapps”. The object that adorned one of the Roman villas depicts Cupid on a dolphin. The artefact is in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. The Roman sculpture was a copy of a Greek one.
Roman mosaic from the Villa of Winterton
Roman mosaic from Villa Winterton in Lincolnshire (England) showing the mythical Orpheus playing the lyre. According to Greek myths, the singing and playing of Orpheus was so beautiful that it was able to calm the weather and animals. The object is dated to the middle of the 4th century CE.
Nosy senator’s wife
Plutarch mentions a story about a senator whose wife questioned him about what the Senate was debating on. To silence his curious wife, the senator replied that the congregation was considering whether the appearance of a lark in the sky with a golden helmet and a spear was a good or bad omen. By the way, he asked his wife to keep a secret when he left the house.
Neptune on chariot
Roman mosaic showing Neptune in a chariot, accompanied by Triton and Nereids. In the corners and sides of the work, we can see figures and animals that symbolize specific seasons – and so olives and wild boar symbolize winter; roses and dog, spring; lion and grain, summer; leopard and grapes, autumn. The object was found in Chebba and dates back to the middle of the 3rd century CE.
