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.

Dog’s remains from the 1st century CE

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…Więcej

Vegetarian diet of gladiators

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…Więcej

Strenuousness of Gaius Acilius

Suetonius in his work “Lives of the Caesars” devoted to successive rulers up to the times of Domitian (81-96 CE) mentions many amazing stories from wars that are intended to interest the reader and emphasize…Więcej

Color reconstruction of tombstone

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…Więcej

Black dog on Roman fresco

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…Więcej

Roman altar to goddess Disciplina

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…Więcej

Queen Teuta and piracy

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…Więcej

Tomb of Marcus Venerius Secundio

In early August 2021, in Pompeii, the tomb of a certain Marcus Venerius Secundio, who was about 60 at the time of his death, was discovered. There are traces of green and blue paintings on…Więcej

Construction disaster in Fidenae

During the reign of Emperor Tiberius, in 27 CE, the greatest construction disaster in ancient Rome took place. In Fidenae (a town not far north of Rome) a wooden amphitheatre has collapsed. According to Suetonius,…Więcej

Beautiful reconstruction of Roman theater in Augusta Emerita

Beautiful reconstruction of the Roman theatre in Augusta Emerita (the present-day city of Merida in Spain). The object was built in the years 16-15 BCE and was dedicated to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a faithful friend…Więcej

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