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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.

Sulpture showing young man

Sculpture showing a young man; perhaps Narcissus, Paris or Adonis. The object dates back to the 2nd century CE. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Sulpture showing young man

Roman bust of Lucius Verus

Roman bust of Lucius Verus, who ruled from 161-169 CE. The object was discovered in the Tomb of Licinius in Rome. The emperor was depicted in the sculpture as an 8-year-old child in 138 CE, when he was adopted by Emperor Antoninus Pius. Lucius wears a paludamentum, a long woolen military cloak. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Roman bust of Lucius Verus

Roman sculpture showing Roman

Roman sculpture showing a Roman. Object dated to 40-30 BCE; discovered in the Temple of Hercules in Cori (Italy). The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Roman sculpture showing Roman

Limestone sculpture depicting lion

Limestone sculpture depicting a lion. The object dates back to the times of the Roman Empire. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark), and was discovered in northern Italy.

Limestone sculpture depicting lion

Herm of Mercury

Roman sculpture showing Mercury (Greek equivalent – Hermes), the so-called herma. Herms were born in Greece, where they traditionally depicted the very popular god Hermes (hence their name).

Herm of Mercury

Roman head of Hercules

Roman head of Hercules. The marble object is probably dated to the 2nd century CE and was discovered in Rome. According to researchers, the damage on the right side of the face indicates that the sculpture depicted a hero with his right hand raised and in the left he was holding his favorite weapon – a club. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Roman head of Hercules

Ancient sales receipt

Preserved Roman tablet confirming that a “full-grown North African girl in the best condition” was sold to the sailor Titus Memmius Montanus for 625 denarii, about two and a half times the basic annual salary of a marine.

Ancient sales receipt

Wooden toy sword

An uncovered sword made of wood, which was probably the toy of a young Roman who pretended to be a legionary. The object dates back to the 1st-4th century CE; discovered in London (England). The artifact is in the British Museum.

Wooden toy sword

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