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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.

Beautiful Roman mosaic showing food at feast

A beautiful Roman mosaic showing food at the banquet. Scattered food scraps increase chaos and the meaning of the feast. On the mosaic appears name “Heraclitos”, who is the author of the work. The object dates to the 2nd century CE. Currently, it is in the Vatican Museums in Rome.

A beautiful Roman mosaic showing the food at the feast

Tropaion

Tropaion, also simply called the trophy (tropaeum) is a form of military monument erected by Greeks and Romans in honour of victory in the battle. It was usually a vertical pole in the shape of a tree with outstretched arms (later crossed with two sticks), to which captured military items were attached. The trophy was next sacrificed to deities for victory.

Roman relief showing tropaion

Values professed by Romans

Ancient Romans believed that their ancestors gave them a catalogue of values ​​to live by. They called him the term mos maiorum, or “the customs of the ancestors.” In practice, the Roman believed that the old is good because it has already been used in practice. In turn, “new things” (res novae) were, according to the Romans, a form of revolution that they associated with chaos and violence.

Bust of an elderly man - the so-called patrician of Torlonia

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