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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.
Cassius Dio tells about an interesting discussion between the wife of Septimius Severus – Julia Domna, and taken captive wife of the Caledonian chieftain, Argentocoxus, which is not known from the name. The conversation was supposed to take place during the emperor’s military campaign in the north of Britain.
An interesting find from the Roman fort of Arbeia in South Shields (North East of England). The subject shows the head of an animal, possibly either a fox or a bear. It was probably an amulet made of a jet (a type of brown coal).
Very interesting image of emperor Elagabalus (204-222 CE), based on the famous bust from the Capitoline Museum in Rome.
According to Roman terms, every person participating in gladiatorial fights was put under infamy, a loss of honour. This was associated with the deprivation of most public rights, limitation of legal capacity, deprivation of legal protection (e.g. torture could be used). In a legal sense, therefore, each gladiator (with very few exceptions) was on the margins of Roman society.
Roman bronze foot lamp. Object dated to the late 1st century CE.
A preserved head from a Roman statue depicting the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus. Object dated to 222-235 CE; made of bronze. The artefact is in the Archaeological Museum in Dion (Greece).
“Germania” was written around 98 CE by the Roman historian Publius Cornelius Tacitus. It describes the history and situation of the Germanic tribes with whom Rome came into contact. “Germania” didn’t get much attention until the 15th century.
Roman two-handed liquid bottle. The object comes from Palestine and dates back to the 4th century CE.
Beautiful Roman mosaics showing the horsemen of each team: Green (prasina), Blue (venata), White (albata), and Red (russata). The objects are dated to the 3rd century CE and are located in the archaeological museum next to Roma Termini main station. Originally, mosaics adorned the cubiculum floor of Villa dei Severi.
Arch of Constantine the Great on a postcard from the early 20th century and in a painting by Giovanni Antonio Canal from the 18th century. The painting is in the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
