Curiosities of ancient Rome

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The world of the ancient Romans was rich in extraordinary, and sometimes even surprising, facts. We draw our knowledge of Roman daily life, customs, and mentality primarily from works left by ancient writers and historians. It is thanks to them that we discover information that is astonishing today – sometimes even hard to believe. Below are some interesting facts that reveal a lesser-known and less obvious side of the Roman world.

I encourage you to submit your own suggestions and to report any corrections or inaccuracies.

Children of legionaries in camp

Even though at the beginning of the empire, Roman legionaries were not officially allowed to marry, they not only started a family, but they also did not keep it very secret. In 2013, in the…Więcej

Roman mosaic washed by waters of Euphrates

Roman mosaic washed by the waters of the Euphrates in the ancient city of Zeugma (near Gaziantep in southern Turkey). The object is dated to the 1st century CE.Więcej

Fragile fate of emperor

Of the first successors of Octavian Augustus, only Tiberius died a natural death. Caligula was stabbed to death, Claudius was poisoned, and Nero was forced to commit suicide. As it turns out, the emperor’s life…Więcej

Tomb of Alexander the Great

The tomb of Alexander the Great was already a cult object and a destination for expeditions in antiquity. To this day, it is not entirely clear where he was. Supposedly, in 48 BCE Julius Caesar…Więcej

Book publishing in Rome

Publishers of Roman books tried to prevent their private copying by “throwing to the market” multiple copies at once. It wasn’t just about the competition, but more about keeping the text correct. Careless and uncontrolled…Więcej

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),…Więcej

Adultery in ancient Rome

A married Roman woman who had intercourse with someone other than her husband had committed adultery under Roman law. According to ancient accounts, if she was caught red-handed, her husband or father had the right…Więcej

Cursus publicus – post office of ancient Rome

There was also a post office in ancient Rome. It was called cursus publicus (“the way of the states”) and was a state post office, resulting from the territorial development of the Empire that required…Więcej

Victim of eruption of Vesuvius in unusual pose

The photo showing the preserved remains of an inhabitant of Pompeii gained considerable popularity on the Internet, who in 79 CE died as a result of hot pyroclastic flow (gas and ash cloud) that killed…Więcej

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…Więcej

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