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.

Tombstone relief showing Roman butcher

Tombstone relief showing the Roman butcher Tiberius Julius Vitalis. It is located in Villa Albani Torlonia in Rome.Więcej

Carnifex – executioner in ancient Rome

In ancient Rome, there was an office of a public executioner (carnifex), which carried out the execution and supervised the torture of slaves and foreigners. Carnifex, because of his scandalous profession, operated outside the city…Więcej

Roman spoon made of blown glass

Roman spoon made of blown glass. The item is made of blue translucent glass. Object dated to the 1st century CE.Więcej

“Cave canem” at entrance to House of Tragic Poet

Roman mosaic showing a dog and the inscription Cave canem (“Beware of the dog”) at the entrance to the House of the Tragic Poet in Pompeii.Więcej

Celts and chariots

The oldest Praceltic name for a war chariot recorded among the Gauls by older ancient Greek authors is reda – a word with a very ancient Proto-Indo-European lineage- a similar one exists in the language…Więcej

Tiger on Roman mosaic

Tiger on a Roman mosaic from the House of Dionysus in Nea Paphos, Cyprus. The animal is part of a larger hunting composition. Object dated at the turn of the 2nd / 3rd century CE.Więcej

Bust of Emperor Philip the Arab

A marble bust showing the Roman emperor Philip the Arab – reigning in the years 244-249 CE. In February 244 CE the Roman army waged ineffective hostilities against Persia on its territory. Unexpectedly, Emperor Gordian…Więcej

Celtic resistance against Caesar

A special role in inciting resistance against the Romans was played by the extraordinary authority of the supernatural “intellectual elite” of the Celts – a network of centres bringing together the Celtic priesthood, a huge…Więcej

Roman mosaic of Pegasus

Roman mosaic of Pegasus. Object dated to the 2nd century CE. The object is located in the Archaeological Museum of Cordoba (Spain).Więcej

Great military reform that never happened

It is reported that in 107-102 BCE there was breakthrough military reform in the army of the Roman republic carried out by Gaius Marius, and its most important decrees it was supposed to transform the…Więcej

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