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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 fresco showing daily expenses

We learn a lot about the expenses of ordinary citizens of course from Pompeii. It was there in one of the houses that the Roman “graffiti” survived; the resident calculates his expenses on the wall for the next five days (prices in asses).

10 February 2022

Roman fresco showing the sale of bread in the market

Roman tombstone with humorous dialogue

Interesting information was left by the Roman tombstone of Lucius Calidius Eroticus and his wife Fannia Voluptatis. The object was found in Isernia, in southern Italy, and dates back to the 1st-2nd century CE.

10 February 2022

Antique gold-plated and silver-plated mirror

Antique gold-plated and silver-plated mirror from the 2nd-1st century BCE. The object sold for $ 116.500. There is a relief on the object showing Aphrodite, who is going to punish Eros with a sandal for breaking a vessel lying on the ground.

10 February 2022

Mullet – delicacy of ancient Romans

As reported by Pliny the Elder¹, who lived in the middle of the 1st century CE, one of the most eaten fish among the ancient Romans was the red mullet. As he himself points out, the fish has a “double beard” (mullus barbatus) and is not suitable for breeding, and the best specimens can be found in open waters.

9 February 2022

“Stepmother” – Roman camp

In the slang of Roman soldiers, a military camp that was located on uneven and unfavourable terrain was called “stepmother” (noverca).

8 February 2022

Roman mosaic showing fauna of Mediterranean Sea

Roman mosaic showing the fauna of the Mediterranean Sea. The object was found in House VIII.2.16 in Pompeii; dated to the 2nd century BCE. Currently, the artefact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples (Italy).

8 February 2022

Roman mosaic showing fauna of Mediterranean Sea

In Rome, there were so-called wet nurse

Children from rich homes were often fed by other women, the so-called mammals. Soranus of Ephesus in the 2nd century CE. He proposed to hire a woman between 20 and 40 years of age who has two or three children of her own.

7 February 2022

Tombstone relief showing magistrate Quintus Lollius Alkamenes

Tombstone relief showing the magistrate Quintus Lollius Alkamenes, holding a bust of an unknown person in his hand (perhaps a portrait of himself as youth or of his son). The deceased was shown during contemplation. On the right, a woman, probably a wife, is making a sacrifice. The object is dated to the 1st century CE; is in the collection of Villa Albani in Rome.

7 February 2022

Tombstone relief showing magistrate Quintus Lollius Alkamenes

Mothers dying after Cannae

Titus Livy reports that reportedly the mother of a Roman who managed to escape from the Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE and return to Rome, she died in the hands of her son. Another mother, hearing about her son’s death, sat in grief in front of the house. But when she saw him alive at her door, she died of joy.

6 February 2022

Illustration showing Hannibal fighting in the front line at the Battle of Cannae

History of Holy Legion

Roman emperor from the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, Maximian, co-ruling with Diocletian, became famous as persecutors of the followers of Christianity. Maximian was once to order the decimation (decimatio) of a legion (the so-called Theban legion, derived from Egypt) composed of Christian soldiers. The commander’s decision was based on the fact that the detachment refused to put down a revolt in Gaul, which was triggered by fellow believers.

5 February 2022

Curiosities of ancient Rome

Roman fresco showing daily expenses

Roman tombstone with humorous dialogue

Antique gold-plated and silver-plated mirror

Mullet – delicacy of ancient Romans

“Stepmother” – Roman camp

Roman mosaic showing fauna of Mediterranean Sea

In Rome, there were so-called wet nurse

Tombstone relief showing magistrate Quintus Lollius Alkamenes

Mothers dying after Cannae

History of Holy Legion

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Curiosities of ancient Rome

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