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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.

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 hermeticism, while the second one valued higher the experimental contact with the surrounding matter. However, was this really the case? What do we owe to the Greco-Roman alchemists? What does alchemy have to do with the monetary unification of Emperor Diocletian? The answer is in the article below.

27 March 2022

Distillation equipment designed by Zosimos according to a Byzantine manuscript

Human beings were sacrificed in Rome

In ancient Rome, contrary to popular belief, human sacrifices were made. We are talking here, especially about the period of the wars with Carthage in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, when numerous failures were explained by the disapproval of the gods.

26 March 2022

Roman fresco showing an attempt to sacrifice Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon

Roman mosaic showing relationship between Aeneas and Dido

Roman mosaic floor that shows scenes from Virgil’s “Aeneid”, exactly the love relationship between Aeneas and Dido, Queen of Carthage. The object is dated to the middle of the 4th century CE discovered in the so-called “Low Ham Roman Villa” in the South West of England.

24 March 2022

Roman mosaic showing relationship between Aeneas and Dido

Quintus Fabius “the Delayer”

In 217 BCE, after a series of legion defeats in the Second Punic War, Fabius Maximus was entrusted with the Roman dictator. He decided to avoid an open clash with Hannibal’s army, waging a war of exhaustion with the Carthaginians.

23 March 2022

Unique Roman wine cup

Unique Roman wine cup made of glass and gold. The object was found in Cologne, Germany in 1864. Artifact dated to the 2nd-4th century CE; it is currently in the Corning Museum of Glass in the USA.

22 March 2022

Roman sculpture showing young Caracalla

Roman sculpture showing a young boy. The object is dated to the end of the 2nd century CE. He is probably a young Caracalla, son of Septimius Severus and future emperor in the years 211-217 CE. The object is located in the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg (Russia).

22 March 2022

Very interesting Roman vessel in shape of human face

Very interesting Roman vessel in the shape of a human face. The object was found in the area of the former Roman settlement of Nida (the present district of Frankfurt am Main – Heddernheim, in western Germany). Artifact dated to the 2nd century CE.

22 March 2022

Very interesting Roman vessel in shape of human face

Who was Jugurtha?

Jugurtha, grandson of Masynissa (an ally of Rome from the Second Punic War ) was king of Numidia from 118 BCE His ambition allowed him to defeat two rivals for the throne of the state, divided by Micipsa. Seeking the unification of the state, however, Jugurtha fell into a conflict with Rome, which led to the so-called Jugurthian War, which was fought in 111-105 BCE.

22 March 2022

After cat’s death, despair was given

The cat in ancient Egypt was an extremely respected animal. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the Egyptians, as a sign of mourning after the death of their cat, mourned and shaved their eyebrows.

21 March 2022

Marcus Agrippa – example of breech birth

Breech birth (a child is born with legs and buttocks facing the birth canal) has been considered dangerous since ancient times. Pliny the Elder defines those born in this way as agrippae, meaning “born with difficulty”.

20 March 2022

Curiosities of ancient Rome

Alchemy in Greek and Roman times

Human beings were sacrificed in Rome

Roman mosaic showing relationship between Aeneas and Dido

Quintus Fabius “the Delayer”

Unique Roman wine cup

Roman sculpture showing young Caracalla

Very interesting Roman vessel in shape of human face

Who was Jugurtha?

After cat’s death, despair was given

Marcus Agrippa – example of breech birth

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Curiosities of ancient Rome

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