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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.

Roman fresco showing dancing inhabitants of Troy

Roman fresco showing dancing inhabitants of Troy leading a horse through the city gates. At the top of the fresco you can see Cassandra, the daughter of Priam (king of Troy), who predicted the tragic defeat of the city, but no one wanted to listen to her. The woman leaves the city with lit torches. The object was discovered in Pompeii and dates back to the 1st century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Roman fresco showing dancing inhabitants of Troy

Hephaestus’ workshop on fresco

Roman fresco showing Hephaestus’ workshop. The scene shows the Cyclops forging weapons for the heroes. The object was discovered in Pompeii and dates back to the 1st century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Hephaestus' workshop on fresco

19th century reconstruction of Colosseum

This is not another computer visualization of a famous monument. It’s a work of art in itself. It was made in 1829 and its author is Louis Duc, a scholarship holder of the French Academy in Rome. Reconstruction was his scholarship work.

19th century reconstruction of Colosseum

Plaster cast of horse

Plaster cast of a horse that died during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE, in one of the houses of Villa Civita Giuliana, located near Pompeii. The object is located in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.

Plaster cast of horse

Reconstruction of preserved ancient chariot

Reconstruction of a preserved ancient chariot that was discovered in one of the houses of Villa Civita Giuliana, located near Pompeii. According to scientists, the chariot was ceremonial and was made of bronze with silver decorations. The object is located in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.

Reconstruction of preserved ancient chariot

Wounded Adonis on Roman fresco

A wounded Adonis in a Roman fresco being comforted by the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite. According to Greek mythology, Adonis was a beautiful young man with whom Aphrodite and Persephone (the wife of Hades, the god of hell) were in love. Ares decided to solve their dispute by sending a boar to attack him.

Wounded Adonis on Roman fresco

Roman sculpture of Antisthenes

Roman sculpture of Antisthenes, a Greek philosopher who is the creator of cynicism – a philosophy focusing on the analysis of virtue and considering it the most important value. The Greek lived in the 5th-4th centuries BCE.

Roman sculpture of Antisthenes

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