Curiosities of ancient Rome

Roman bust of a man from the 3rd century CE. The object is located in the Capitoline Museums in Rome.

Preserved stone stairs in Pompeii. Not many floors remained in the destroyed city as the buildings collapsed under the weight of falling ash and volcanic material.

Roman sculpture showing the bust of Hercules. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Roman sculpture depicting Aphrodite (Venus). The object is a Roman copy (from the 1st century CE) of a Greek original from the 5th century BCE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Fragment of a Roman sarcophagus showing Diana, the goddess of nature, and Endymion, the shepherd. The object dates back to the 2nd century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Roman sculpture of Antinous, depicted as Bacchus. The object dates back to the 2nd century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Roman relief showing Pan, the guardian deity of forests and fields, riding a mule. The object is a Roman copy of a Greek original. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Round tablet depicting the scene of Hercules catching the Ceryneian hind. This was the third labor of Hercules and was extremely difficult to perform because the animal was very fast; the hero needed a year for this. The object dates back to the 1st century CE; discovered in Pompeii. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Fragment of a Roman fresco from a tavern in Pompeii. The inscription in Greek reads: “Here lives the son of Zeus, Heracles the glorious conqueror; let evil stay away”. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.