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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.
Herma was an architectural decorative element in the form of a square pole tapering downwards, and at the top ended with a bust or a sculpture of the head. Initially (up to the 5th century BCE) the form used in Greece only for the representation of Hermes, the god of the journey. On herma also was placed the image of the phallus, which in ancient times was a symbol of happiness. Later, other gods and heroes were presented in this way.
A marble sculpture depicting a Satyre annoying the panther. Object dated to the 1st century CE.
Roman dices found in a Roman camp near Thrace, in Macedonia. Those probably belonged to one of the legionaries stationed there. Dated back to 3rd century CE.
Roman dagger. A Roman soldier lost the dagger in the waters and marshland near Rossington Bridge Roman fort. The iron dagger had a bone handle which consisted of several parts, each separated by the iron washers on the existing tang which can still be seen.
Battle of Tigranocerta was fought on October 6, 69 BCE. It was one of the greatest Roman victories in history. Consisting of nearly 40, 000 Roman army, commanded by Lucius Licinnius Lucullus, opposed the Armenian army under the command of Tigranes the Great, in the strength of 80-100 thousand soldiers. Interestingly, before the battle, both leaders were to say interesting words to their adversaries – although those were probably both apocryphal.
During the II war with the Mithridates (73-63 BCE), the Romans, headed by Lucullus to Pontus near the Black Sea coast and besieged the Pontic city of Themyscira1. According to Appian from Alexandria there was an unexpected defense strategy from the inhabitants.
Roman marble head of a bearded man. Dated back to 2nd-3rd century CE.
War chariots were found in Europe and the Middle East. The Romans described chariot as currus falcatus. The war chariot was equipped with scythes called falces, placed on both sides of the wheel axle and at the drawbar. It should be noted that the Roman army basically did not use chariots for military purposes, at most as a parade or means of transport for couriers.
Roman ceramic lamp representing a grotesque mask. Dated back to I-II century CE.
An attempt to reconstruct the image of Cleopatra VII. The queen seduced Julius Caesar himself, and later Mark Antony. For centuries, Cleopatra was considered to be extremely beautiful, as evidenced by historians. However, the researchers decided to conduct their own research. Research on the coin from two thousand years ago showed that the famous Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt, who seduced Julius Caesar, and after his death Marc Antony, in fact, was ugly. She had a pointed chin, a narrow mouth and a large nose.
