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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.

Quintuplets in message of Gellius

It is difficult to imagine that more children than two / three could be born and survived in the world at one time in antiquity. Mostly multiple babies are premature babies, and the more babies there are, the more difficult it is to maintain the pregnancy and keep them and their mother alive after birth.

Roman relief showing a woman and a child

Alectriomancy – fortune-telling with chickens

Romans, as a nation famous for their godly fear already in ancient times, tried to run the state as often as possible in accordance with the will of the gods read through the signs of omens. Quirites respected birds very much because it was from their flight that the future and divine intentions were foretold by means of auspices.

Rooster on the Roman mosaic

Roman globe in Vatican

The preserved globe-shaped sculpture that crowned the obelisk is now in the Capitoline Museum in Rome. There are traces of gilding; the object is dated to the 1st century CE.

Roman globe in Vatican

Roman military diploma

A military diploma is the modern name of Roman documents confirming the release from the army and the granting of Roman citizenship to a veteran of auxiliary units by the emperor. It existed as a reward for faithful service. The diploma was drawn up by imperial officials and displayed to the public in Rome.

Roman military diploma

Fossa Neronis – channel of Nero between Puteoli and Rome

During the reign of Nero (54-68 CE), a plan appeared to dig a 257 km long water canal from Lake Avernus, near Puteoli (Pozzuoli), to the vicinity of Rome. The idea was to secure grain supplies to the capital, as ships often crashed in the final stretch between Puteoli and Rome. Established during the rule of Claudius (41-54 CE), the new port at the mouth of the Tiber meant that many ships were pushed back by storms onto the built embankments and fortifications.

Lake Avernus

Roman Arch in Pula

In Pula (Croatia) there is a well-preserved Roman triumphal arch, which honoured the Sergia family, and especially Lucius Sergius Lepidus – a military tribune in the XXIX Legion who took part in the battle of Actium in 29 BCE. The family of Sergia had an important position in the city.

Roman Arch in Pula

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