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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 fashion

According to Roman fashion, feasts were organized in the so-called triclinium. In the middle of the room, the table was set up, and the sofas around it, leaving one side “unmarked” (something like a horseshoe was created).
Triclinia could have different sizes – in the picture we can see the smallest possible triclinium, consisting of three sofas. Most often, however, it consisted of nine couches arranged around the table.

Roman fashion

Impurities on Roman streets

The picture shows stone blocks in Pompeii. They made it possible for residents not to get dirty and not to walk on the lower level of the road, where all impurities accumulated.

Passages in Roman streets in Pompeii

Skeleton from Viminacium

Found in Viminacium – Roman town located near Kostolac (eastern Serbia) – skeleton of Roman in grave. Dated back to 3rd-4th century CE.

A skeleton from Viminacium

Farnese Bull

Farnese Bull is a famous Roman sculpture from the 3rd century CE showing the scene of punishing queen Dirce by tethering her to the horns of a bull.

Farnese Bull

Tessera – Roman theater ticket or game token?

So far, many items with the appearance of tokens have been discovered and date back to the times of ancient Rome. Scientists refer to them as tesserae, and their function is still not fully understood to this day. The item had the image of the emperor and numbering; they were made of clay, bone or ivory.

Tessera from the 1st century CE

Roman associations

In ancient Rome operated colleges (collegia), gathering employees of the same branch of trade. These types of associations were created either on the initiative of the Senate or independently. What’s more, there were also religious associations.

Collegium

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