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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 bust of a charioteer made of ivory. Researchers suggest that the sculpture may depict Emperor Caracalla. The object was probably found in Arles, France, where there are also remains of a Roman amphitheater.
Roman tombstone commemorating Quartulus, a child who worked as a miner. Died at the age of 4. The boy is shown with a pickaxe and a basket to carry material. Object found in Jaén, Spain; it is now in the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid.
Dog’s remains from the 1st century CE. The owner had to respect his pet very much; the animal was buried with the vessel and head on a piece of leather. The tomb was discovered in Cologne (Germany).
The gladiator’s diet was mostly vegetarian by today’s standards. The basis of the diet was broad beans and grains, from which even the colloquial term for gladiators comes from – hordearii, meaning “barley”. This diet was rich in carbohydrates.
Color reconstruction of the tombstone of a certain M. Vinicius Corinthus and Tyche. It is located in the Archaeological Museum of Florence. Dated to the 1st century BCE. The author of the reconstruction is Ritchie Pogorzelski.
Roman fresco from Pompeii showing a tied black dog. The object was decorated with a Roman street bar (called thermopolium) in Regio V. The painting was found without the words CAVE CANEM (“Beware of the dog”), but the image of the black dog was certainly intended to scare off intruders.
Roman altar to goddess Disciplina. The object was found at the Roman camp at Birrens, southern Scotland. Disciplina was the goddess of education, training and orderly life. In fact, the goddess was the personification of good values. Worshiping the goddess by soldiers was to prove their high combat value and lead a good life.
Queen Teuta was regent of the kingdom of the Ardiai from 230-228 BCE and ruler of part of the state with the capital in Rhizon in the years 228-217 BCE. On the Dalmatian shores of her country, pirates found comfortable ports and support.
