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The world of the ancient Romans was rich in extraordinary, and sometimes even surprising, facts. We draw our knowledge of Roman daily life, customs, and mentality primarily from works left by ancient writers and historians. It is thanks to them that we discover information that is astonishing today – sometimes even hard to believe. Below are some interesting facts that reveal a lesser-known and less obvious side of the Roman world.
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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.
Roman infantry scale and plate armour found around Hadrian’s Wall. Currently located in Tullie Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle (northern England).
Islamic fundamentalists in Syria are responsible for the destruction of many ancient monuments, including Byzantine mosaics and Greco-Roman statues. They do so because showing human beings in art is inconsistent with their confession. It is believed that destroying monuments in Syria is a greater disaster for cultural heritage than blowing up a giant statue of Buddha in Bamian (Afghanistan) in 2001. Then, also, religion was the motif.
