Roman mosaic showing hunting tiger
Roman mosaic showing hunting tiger. Object dated back to 3rd century CE. Roman mosaic villa floor from Lod near Tel Aviv, Israel.
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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.
Romans models for building design
In the process of building design and construction, the ancient Romans used scaled models that helped to design buildings and present their final form to clients.
Penthiacum – Roman dish
Penthiacum is one of the dishes eaten in antiquity, and which was mentioned by Petronius in the “Trimalchio’s feast”. The meal consisted of chopped meat. The name derives from the name of the mythical king Thebes, Pentheus, who according to Greek mythology was killed in fury by Maenad, also called Bacchae.
Constantine I and Tyche on decorated artifact
Decorated object showing Constantine I and Tyche. Object is made of sardonyx; dated back to 4th century CE. It was reworked in the 19th century by Benedetto Pistrucci.
Manumission in ancient Rome
The formal procedure for liberation of the slave (manumissio vindicta) took place in front of the praetor or consul and only with his consent (addictio). At least three people had to take part in the process: a slave, an owner and an outsider (adsertor libertatis) who was free and certified the freedom of a slave.
Titus Pullo and Pompey’s army
During the civil war between Caesar and Pompey there was a surprising incident. In the year 48 BCE legio XXIV Victrix Rapax commanded by legate Gaius Antonius (brother of Mark Antony) was cut off on the island and surrounded by faithful troops of Pompey.
Gladiatrix
The main difference between a male and a female gladiator was the fact that a woman fighting in the arena was not a slave. Probably in the later Roman period, gladiatrices (singular gladiatrix) were also people from slavery. Originally, however, women voluntarily took part in gladiatorial battles, seeking adventures.
