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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 weight

The photo shows a Roman weight, which was used to weight fishing nets. The object is dated to the 1st century CE.

Roman weight

Reconstruction of Roman measuring tool – groma

Reconstruction of the Roman measuring tool – the so-called groma – which is located in the museum of the Roman theater in Lisbon. The tool was used to measure straight lines and right angles and was the main tool used by Roman geodesists to build roads, buildings or divide agricultural land.

Graphics showing groma being used

Phallus – symbol in Roman and Greek world

Phallus was widely used in the Greek and Roman world. The ubiquity of the phallus also meant its partial detachment from sexuality. The children wore it on the neck, it was on reliefs, it decorated the lamps, jewelry and dishes, or served as an amulet, a religious symbol.

Amor on winged phallus

Nutritional secrets of gladiators

In 1993, an ancient cemetery was found in Ephesus (western part of Turkey), the former capital of the Roman province of Asia. Scientists had two suspicions suggesting that this is a mass grave of gladiators.

Mosaic showing gladiators during the fight

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