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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.
After death of Caesar
After the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE, Mark Antony came up with the idea of honoring deceased ruler and name the seventh month with his name. This is how Latin Julius, French Juillet and English July were created, which is simply July (in our name comes from summer blooming July).
Mummy portrait of Egyptian woman
Tombstone portrait of a woman who was mummified after her death. Object found at Fayum, Roman Egypt. It belongs to the so-called Fayum portraits. The painting was created with the encaustic technique (using paint dissolved in hot wax) on wood.
Jesus in Pantheon of Roman gods?
According to a Christian historian from the 4th century CE – Eusebius of Caesarea – emperor Tiberius, despite being a pagan, was told by Pontius Pilate about the disappearance the body of Christ and his alleged resurrection, he sent to the Roman senate the matter of ccepting Jesus into the pantheon of Roman gods. The Senate reportedly rejected the application because it was not he who brought the idea.
Golden oak wreath
Golden oak wreath with a bee and two cicadas. The object was dated 350-300 BCE; found in Turkey, near Dardanelle, in a tomb. An object located in the British Museum.
Marble bust of Emperor Marcus Aurelius
Marble bust of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, dressed in a fringed coat. The facility is located in The British Museum. The object dates from 160-170 CE; found in Libya, in the so-called House of Jason Magnus.
Cult of Mithra was popular among legionaries
The cult god Mithra was extremely popular among soldiers. This deity was to kill a bull whose blood became the foundation of the universe. At the end of the 2nd century and in the 3rd century CE his follower was Emperor Commodus (180–192 CE). As Sol Invictus (“Invincible Sun”), Mitra was worshiped primarily from the times of Aurelian by Roman emperors, among whom was also young Constantine I (306‒337 CE). With the flourishing of this last religion in the lands of the Roman Empire, Mithraism slowly disappeared to finally fall into total oblivion.
Roman skeleton made of bronze
A bronze Roman skeleton referring to the famous reminder of memento mori. Dated to around the 2nd century BCE – 5th century CE.
Beard in Roman world
A qualified hairdresser (tonsor) in Rome could make a career and earn good money. It should be noted, however, that shaving was not very pleasant and easy at the time. The Romans used much worse steel than we do today, and it has often happened that the razor (novacula) quickly blunted. In addition to shaving, cutting and waxing, hairdressers also offered the removal of individual facial hair with tweezers (volsella).
