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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.

Temple of Dioscuri in Agrigento

Temple of the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux) in Agrigento was built in the middle of the 5th century BCE. The preserved four columns prove that they were made in the Doric order. The building had six columns on both sides; of the other two, thirteen.

14 September 2021

Parricidia

Parricidia, was one of the most serious crimes in Roman criminal law. The term was used to refer to the killing of relatives.

14 September 2021

Roman fresco from Villa of Mysteries

Roman fresco from the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii, showing a representative of the Arimaspian people stealing gold from a griffin. Object dated to the middle of the 1st century BCE.

13 September 2021

Itinerarium – Roman road map

Itinerarium (literally “journey”) was a Roman map showing cities, smaller centers (vici) and other places of interest to travelers. The only surviving map / note of this type is the so-called Tabula Peutingeriana or Itinerarium Antonini Augusti.

13 September 2021

Tabula Peutingeriana showing southern Italy

Roman road in Cagliari

Roman road in Cagliari (Roman city of Carales), Sardinia. The road was built at the end of antiquity and connected the city center with the coast. The object is inside the museum – Museo del Tesoro di Sant’Eulalia.

12 September 2021

Trojan pig – Roman dish

Information about a luxurious Roman dish – the so-called The “Trojan pig” comes from the 5th century and we owe it to the scientist Macrobius. Macrobius himself describes the meaning of the dish as follows: “made pregnant with other animals and enclosed within as the Trojan horse was made pregnant with armed men”.

12 September 2021

Pig with porcini on a Roman mosaic. It is located in the Vatican Museums in Rome

Tablet (No. 311) discovered in Vindolanda

Tablet (No. 311) discovered at the Roman camp of Vindolanda, in northern England. In the letter, Sollemnis addresses a certain Paris (a soldier of the third Batavian cohort), to whom he points out that he did not send him even a single message. The object is now in The British Museum and dates back to the 1st century CE.

11 September 2021

Wooden tablet (No. 311) discovered in Vindolanda

Tarpeian rock

The Tarpeian Rock (saxum Tarpeium, mons Tarpeius, arx Tarpeia), is the slope of the Capitoline Hill named after the Vestal of Virgin – Tarpea, who betrayed Rome for promises of gold bracelets/epaulettes worn by the Sabines. After conquering the city, the Sabines threw her shields over her, causing her death, and buried her on the hill. In memory of this gruesome act, the hillside is called the Tarpeian Rock.

11 September 2021

Roman road – Ermine Street

A preserved Roman road that used to lead from Londinium (London) north to Lindum Colonia (Lincoln) and Eboracum (York).

10 September 2021

Great sarcophagus of Ludovisi

The so-called Ludovisi’s great sarcophagus was discovered in 1621 in a tomb on Via Tiburtina and found its way into the collections of the famous collector of ancient art – Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, nephew of Pope Gregory XV.

10 September 2021

Curiosities of ancient Rome

Temple of Dioscuri in Agrigento

Parricidia

Roman fresco from Villa of Mysteries

Itinerarium – Roman road map

Roman road in Cagliari

Trojan pig – Roman dish

Tablet (No. 311) discovered in Vindolanda

Tarpeian rock

Roman road – Ermine Street

Great sarcophagus of Ludovisi

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Curiosities of ancient Rome

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