Curiosities of ancient Rome

Octopus on a Roman mosaic; the object dates to the 4th century CE and was discovered in Aquileia, Italy. Octopus was part of the diet of ancient Romans, particularly in coastal regions.

Roman mosaic depicting a leopard and Dionysian symbols. Dated to the 1st century CE, the object was found in Pompeii.

Roman mosaic depicting a frog on a leaf. Ancient Greeks and Romans associated frogs with harmony, fertility, and debauchery, as well as the goddess Aphrodite (Venus).

Roman gold signet ring depicting a raven perched on a ram’s head. A crescent moon and branch motif are also visible. The piece dates to the 2nd-1st century BCE. The artifact is located at the Thorvaldsen Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Roman mosaic depicting rabbit driving chariot pulled by geese. The object is located in the Louvre Museum.

Statue of a nude Venus in the peristyle of the Torre Annunziata in Oplontis. The object was likely a decorative element in one of the rooms in the house.

Fragment of a Roman fresco discovered in Pompeii, depicting an initiation ritual into the mysteries of Dionysus. The scene depicts shellfish and slaughtered animals.

Roman sculpture honoring Jupiter. The object was discovered in 2024 in Stuttgart, southwest Germany, on the site of a former Roman fort.

Preserved Punic amphora that was excavated from the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea near the island of Gozo. The object is dated to the 4th-3rd century BCE.

Roman floor mosaic depicting birds. The object is located in the so-called House of the Faun (VI. 12. 2) in Pompeii.