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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.

Roman, proud nose

In ancient Rome, being born with a hooked nose was considered a sign of leadership. The Romans saw a person with an “eagle’s nose” as beautiful and dignified. They were referred to as aquiline noses; the name comes from the word aquilinus (“eagle-like”).

Trajan

Isca Augusta – Roman remains in Caerleon

Isca Augusta was a Roman fort and urban centre, whose remains are located nearby or in Caerleon, in South Wales. This is where the II Augustus legion camped, which took part in the invasion of Claudius in 43 CE. It was one of three permanent Roman camps in Britain that survived until the late Empire.

Roman Amphitheater in Caerleon

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.

Tombstone portrait of an Egyptian woman

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.

Roman golden oak wreath

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.

Mithra killing the bull

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