Roman frescoes showing seaside villas
Roman frescoes showing seaside villas. Objects dating back to the 1st century CE; discovered in Pompeii. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
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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 vessel with erotic scene
Roman vessel with an erotic scene. The object was made of bronze and discovered in Pompeii. Dated to the 1st century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Herodotus’ description of preparation of Scythian burial
I have already written about the Scythian invasion of the Middle East in the 7th century BCE. Let’s stay on the topic of the Scythians, because when it comes to ancient history, I must admit that they are the people that fascinate me the most. The Scythians were famous for their customs, which were usually seen as extremely barbaric by the Hellenes. It was no different in the case of the preparation of the Scythian royal burial, the description of which was left to us by perhaps the most famous of the ancient historians, Herodotus.
Herodotus about Massagetae
Scythians and Sarmatians were not the only warrior nomads of Iranian origin described by Herodotus. To the east of them, in the territory of modern Kazakhstan, there were supposed to be the lands of the Massagetae people. They had in common with the Scythians not only their origins and way of life, but both peoples were also famous for defeating the Persians. Before King Darius I suffered defeat at the hands of the Scythians, the founder of the Achaemenid empire, Cyrus II, was allegedly killed by the Massagetae. The queen of this people, named Tomyris, is said to have kept the severed head of the Persian monarch in a sack filled with blood, justifying this by saying that it saturates the blood of those who were not saturated with blood.
Scythian invasion of Middle East in Book of Jeremish
Most of my readers probably know who the ancient Scythians were, but for those uninitiated, in short, they were a nomadic Iranian people who in the 7th century BCE settled on the Black Sea steppes, displacing the Cimmerian people related to them. Archaeological traces of the Scythians’ presence are also found in the lands of modern Poland, but we can talk about such wonders as the treasure from Witaszków another time. That’s the introduction in a nutshell. However, did you know that the terrifying invasion of the Scythians on the lands of the Middle East is most likely mentioned in the Old Testament Book of the Prophet Jeremiah?
Pan flute
Roman musical instrument, the so-called Pan’s flute (according to Greek mythology, the god Pan and satyrs were supposed to play it). The object is made of bronze and dates back to the 1st century CE. Discovered in Pompeii. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman fresco showing hermaphrodite
Roman fresco showing a hermaphrodite revealing her male-female sexual organs. At this sight, Pan (the god of forests and fields) nearby runs away. The object dates back to the 1st century CE; discovered in Pompeii. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman fresco showing standing Apollo
Roman fresco showing standing Apollo with omphalos next to it – a stone covered with a net (symbol of the center of the universe). The object dates back to the 1st century BCE; discovered in Pompeii. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
How private agreement between three men ruined republic…
In 43 BCE a private agreement between three men sealed the fate of the Roman republic. Even before the death of Julius Caesar, the Roman republic was dying out – torn apart by the ambitions of successive great leaders and the civil wars they caused. But after the Ides of March, her agony accelerated rapidly. But formally it still continued – consuls and other officials were still elected, and the Senate continued its sessions. People’s assemblies were then convened…
Inner garden in a Roman house
Inner garden (hortus) in a Roman house (so-called Casa della Nave Europa) in Pompeii. The preserved columns that surrounded the greenery and created the peristyle (internal courtyard) are visible.
