Curiosities of ancient Rome

“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).

Painted bust of Agrippina the Elder, daughter of Marcus Agrippa and Julia; the wife of an outstanding general Germanicus.

An interesting knife stand in the shape of stabbed Julius Caesar.

Bust of Julius Bassianus from Villa Borghese. He was the high priest of El Gabala from North Arabia. The Roman belonged to the seventh generation of the descendants of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII. He was the father-in-law of Septimius Severus, grandfather of Caracalla and Geta, great-grandfather of Elagabalus and Alexander Severus.

Marking of Roman legions on bricks; dated to II-IV century CE. The object was found in Sirmium (current Śremska Mitrovica, northern Serbia).

In Praia da Luz (south of Portugal), on the seaside of the Atlantic Ocean, there are remains of the Roman centre of salting and fish processing.