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Curiosities of ancient Rome

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.

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Roman fresco of young woman from Serbia

Roman fresco of a young woman from Serbia that dates back to the 4th century CE. The object comes from a pagan grave that was discovered in eastern Serbia – the city of Kostolac (ancient Viminacium).

Roman fresco of young woman from Serbia

Model of Porta Nigra

Model of Porta Nigra (“Black Gate”) and Roman fortifications with a photo of the preserved gate. The monument is located in Trier (Roman Augusta Trevorum) in West Germany.

Model of Porta Nigra

Socrates on Roman fresco

Socrates depicted in a Roman fresco. The painting is dated to the 2nd-1st century BCE and was discovered in Ephesus, in the remains of an atrium of one of the Roman domus. Currently, the object is in the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus (Turkey).

Socrates on Roman fresco

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