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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.

Hasdrubal’s fall

Hasdrubal was during the period of III Punic War the commander-in-chief of the city’s defence forces – Carthage. When the troops of Scipio destroyed the Carthaginian army outside the city, the city was cut off from the outside world, and all food delivery ceased. Residents of the city and few soldiers were at the mercy of Scipio. Hasdrubal, who was in charge of defence, asked for peace, but Scipio was merciless (or received explicit instructions from the Senate) and in the spring of 146 BCE stormed the city.

26 June 2020

Dishes made from terracotta

Dishes made from terracotta, which were discovered in Domus Romana in Malta. The items are dated to the first century BCE – 2nd century CE.

25 June 2020

Roman eagle from Amiternum

Roman eagle, found in 2014 during excavations at Amiternum (Italy). It was made of bronze.

25 June 2020

Statue of Hercules from Forum Boarium

The statue of Hercules exhibited in the Capitoline Museums is one of the most delightful Roman statues preserved to this day.

24 June 2020

Roman crystal ball with Greek palindrome

Roman crystal ball with the Greek palindrome – the word sounding the same, read from left to right and from right to left. The object is in the collection of National Museum of Denmark.

24 June 2020

Roman crystal ball with Greek palindrome

Roman wall ruins in Hungary

Ruins of the Roman walls in the ancient city of Aquincum (present-day Budapest, Hungary) – the capital of the province of Pannonia Inferior.

23 June 2020

Roman bone container

Roman bone container, found in so-called Busugrilli tomb, Malta. The object is dated around 1st BCE – 3rd century CE.

23 June 2020

Vercingetorix – what did his name mean?

Vercingetorix – the leader of the Gauls’ uprising against Rome, was probably known among his own under a completely different name that has not survived to this day.

22 June 2020

Giovanni Calcagno as Vercingetorix in the series "Rome"

Sleeping Ariadne on Roman bas-relief

Roman marble bas-relief depicting a sleeping Ariadne. The object dates to the 3rd-4th century CE. The object was found in the remains of the imperial palace in the Gamzigrad complex (Felix Romuliana), near Zaječar in eastern Serbia. Currently, the artefact is in the museum in Zaječar.

21 June 2020

Relief depicting Trajan’s posthumous triumph

Relief depicting Trajan’s posthumous triumph, after a victorious campaign in the Party, in 118 CE. The object is located in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Palestrina in the ancient Praeneste (now Palestrina, Italy).

21 June 2020

Curiosities of ancient Rome

Hasdrubal’s fall

Dishes made from terracotta

Roman eagle from Amiternum

Statue of Hercules from Forum Boarium

Roman crystal ball with Greek palindrome

Roman wall ruins in Hungary

Roman bone container

Vercingetorix – what did his name mean?

Sleeping Ariadne on Roman bas-relief

Relief depicting Trajan’s posthumous triumph

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Curiosities of ancient Rome

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