Curiosities of ancient Rome

Roman short dagger with cover. Found in the Cetina riverbed near the city of Trilj (Croatia). Dated to the end of the 1st century BCE.

Dated to the 1st century BCE an Egyptian document on which, according to the researchers, there is the only preserved handwritten signature of queen Cleopatra VII. Papyrus has survived to our times, because it was used in the first century CE to wrap the mummy in the ancient cemetery of Busiris (200 km southeast of Alexandria).

According to the records of Pliny the Elder, Roman Emperor Nero during gladiatorial fights looked at the arena through a concave emerald. In this way, he eliminated the glare of the sun and his nearsightedness.

Decorated Roman colander, made of bronze. The object was found in Pompeii and dates from the 1st century BCE.

An interesting collection of postcards from Rome from around 1890 was collected. The photos were taken using photochromic technology.

Roman hippodrome in Caesarea Maritima in Israel. This facility is the best preserved of its kind and could seat up to 20,000 spectators. It was place were mostly chariot racing were kept.