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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.
There is a popular belief that ancient Romans after defeating Carthage in 146 BCE not only razed the city to the ground but also sprinkled it with salt, in order to make sure that nothing would grow in these hated areas.
Roman cameo collection. Carved images of Roman deities are visible on the stones. Dated to 2nd – 3rd century CE. Objects were found in the Roman city of Singidunum (now Belgrade, Serbia).
Roman denarius depicting Augustus (reigned in 27 BCE – 14 CE). The silver coin was minted around 19- 18 BCE, probably in one of the Spanish mints. On the obverse, we see the princeps with a wreath of oak leaves on the head (so-called corna civica). On the reverse, in turn, there is an embossed inscription DIVVS IVLIVS and a comet with eight rays and a tail of fire.
Roman terracotta toy – horse on wheels. Dated to the 4th century CE. The object is located at the Ancient Agora Museum in Athens.
Reproduction of a Roman doll. The object is located in the Museum of Zaragoza (Spain).
An image of a Roman soldier on a sarcophagus found in a crypt at the Beljnjač archaeological site in Šid, in northern Serbia. The object is dated to the 4th century CE.
Emperor Caligula was the first emperor who compared himself to god and called himself like that. What’s more, he allowed himself bizarre decisions, including appointing his horse a senator. About Caligula’s favourite horse (Incitatus, meaning “swift” or “at full gallop”) writes Suetonius in “About the Life of the Caesars”. According to the Roman writer, the animal had 18 servants who cared for it.
Reconstruction of a Roman toy – rider on a horse. The object is located in the Ruffenhofen Archaeological Park in Bavaria (Germany).
Roman bust showing an older man – so-called patrician Torlonia. It is widely believed that the sculpture depicts the famous Cato the Elder (234-149 BCE). The object is in the collection of the Torlonia Foundation in Rome. The sculpture is dated to the 1st century CE and is a copy of a republican masterpiece from the 1st century BCE.
