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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.

Bacchus on chariot

In the Archaeological Museum in Seville there is an interesting Roman mosaic showing the triumph of Bacchus after his mythological conquest of India. God is pulled in a chariot by tigers and is surrounded by satire. The object dates to the 3rd century CE.

Bacchus on the chariot

Bronze platter engraved with strange figure

An antique bronze plateau was laid in an Etruscan tomb from the 7th century BCE. Interestingly, the bowl has a strange figure scratched at the bottom. The object was admired by the author of the photo in Great Palaestra in Pompeii (not sure if it can be seen there still).

Venus

Kiss in antiquity

The kiss plays an important role in many cultures to this day. It was no different in ancient times. Ancient Romans used it as a sign of friendship, respect or even greetings (salutatio) of the client’s patron.

Roman clay fragment with relief decoration depicting a couple kissing.

What was vomitorium?

At present, there is a common misconception that the vomitorium was a room specially dedicated by the ancient Romans to empty the stomach during banquets.

Vomitorium

“Wounded Warrior”

“Wounded warrior” sometimes also called “Farnese Gladiator” (from the collection of which he was part in modern times). The sculpture dates from the second century CE and is of course a Roman copy of an older Greek work probably made in the 5th century BCE (and for that reason alone he can’t portray a gladiator). According to ancient artistic convention, the figure is naked. This does not mean, however, that the ancient warriors did indeed fight without clothing. Such a performance is only to emphasize the heroism and beauty of the human body (so-called heroic nudity).

A wounded warrior

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