Curiosities of ancient Rome

Roman portrait of a man on a mummy from Egypt. Object dated to the 1st century CE and is currently in the Ipswich Museum (England). The painting belongs to the so-called groups of Fayum portraits.

Statue of Ulpia Marciana – the older sister of Emperor Trajan – who has a characteristic diadem-shaped hairstyle.

Roman mosaic showing the rivalry between a rooster and a turtle. The object comes from Aquileia in northern Italy. In the early Christian tradition, the fight of animals symbolized the clash between good and evil – the rooster portends daylight, and the turtle was considered a night animal.

Roman bronze bust showing a certain Caius Norbanus Sorex – a Roman actor. The object is dated to 25 BCE – 14 CE.

The ancient Romans had multi-purpose tools similar to today’s pocket knives of the Swiss army. Such a tool had: a knife, a spoon, a three-tooth fork, a pick and a spatula. Such a pocket knife was part of the Roman soldier’s equipment.

Roman figurine depicting a secutor gladiator who was well-armed and usually fought against a retiarius. The object is made of bronze and dates back to the 4th century CE.

A mural from Ostia – a Roman port – showing the loading of a merchant ship named Isis Giminiana with grain. Object dated to the 2nd-3rd century CE. Located in the Vatican Museums in Rome.

A small wooden Roman sword found at the Vindolanda camp (North of England). The object probably was a toy for the child.