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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 frieze showing gladiator fight
Roman frieze showing gladiator fight. Object dated back to 2nd – 3rd century CE. Object from the necropolis at Kibyra (Turkey), Burdur Museum.
Fight of ichneumon and cobra
Claudius Aelianus presents the struggle of ichneumon (Egyptian mongoose, also called the pharaoh’s rat) with a cobra. Ichneumon does not move to attack the enemy without caution and rashly. Just as a man can defend himself in full gear, the ichneumon is first rolled in the mud until it is covered with a hard shell, which serves him as a safe and tight protection. If the mud is missing, it is washed with water and the whole wet one dips deep into the sand – only then it starts to fight.
Roman dices
Roman dices made of bronze in the shape of crouching figures (I-II century BCE).
Roman vase and quadriga
Roman vase from Colchester, showing charioteer racing his quadriga.
Famous centurion stick
The famous centurion stick – vitis, a sign of function, a punishment tool. It was made of vine wood, and it was implemented during the Punic wars. It was about 0,9 meters long. Tacitus mentions that one of the centurions received the nickname Cedo Alteram (“give me another”), because of the continuous breaking of the stick.
