Curiosities of ancient Rome

The so-called statue of Augustus of Prima Porta stood in the private villa of Empress Livia in Prima Porta, near Rome. This is probably the posthumous appearance of the emperor, as evidenced by his bare feet – nudity symbolized the death of the depicted person, but the emperor fighting for the renewal of Roman customs was not decided to present in this form, especially shortly after his death. Instead, the pars pro toto principle was used – literally “part of the whole” – bare feet were supposed to symbolize the nakedness of the whole body.

The tombstone of Viatorinus, a Roman soldier who died at the hands of Frank in a foreign land – near the ancient settlement of Divitia (near Gereonskloster; around Cologne in Germany).

Late Roman fresco showing a slave carrying master’s trousers. Object dated to around 375 CE. Fresco found in a tomb near the Roman city of Durostorum (now Silistra, Bulgaria).

Beautiful Roman chalice showing a gladiator. Found in Afghanistan. Dated to the 1st century CE.

Detail from a Roman mosaic showing a wild cat. The object was found on Delos, in the so-called House of Masks. The mosaic probably showed Dionysus on the panther.

A pendant made of sardonyx showing Emperor Hadrian, crowned by Oikoumene (personification of the conquered world).

Roman gold pendant with the moon. The beads are made of blue glass. The object dates to the 2nd century CE.