Roman fresco showing bread and garlic
Roman fresco showing bread and garlic. Object discovered in Herculaneum. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
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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 hand abacus
Roman hand abacus, which was used by, among others, engineers or merchants. You could always have this type of ancient calculator with you and thus speed up operations. Interestingly, the modern word “calculator” comes from the Latin calx, meaning “small stones”.
Roman sculpture depicting Plautilla
Roman sculpture showing Plautilla – the wife of Emperor Caracalla. The object dates back to 202 CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman fresco showing rooster pecking grapes
Roman fresco showing a rooster pecking grapes. The object was discovered in Herculaneum and dated to the 1st century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman fresco showing symbols of Dionysus
Roman fresco showing the symbols of Dionysus (Bacchus): a panther, a tambourine, a rhython and a cup of wine. The object was discovered in Pompeii and dates back to the 1st century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
“How did you become Agrippa?”
It is true that every new monarch ascending the throne must take into account the danger of a potential attack on his life. As history shows, there has never been a shortage of people who were able to raise a hand against their own ruler. These cruel practices were already known in antiquity, and Roman emperors often had to face attacks on their own lives. Octavian Augustus himself, generally considered a rather good ruler, did not avoid conspiracies and attacks aimed at taking his life or power.
Cover of Roman sarcophagus
Cover of Roman sarcophagus with a depiction of a feasting scene during Bacchanalia. The object dates back to the mid-2nd century CE.
Roman rock crystal ring
Roman rock crystal ring. The object is decorated with a crescent and stars – symbols of eternity and the afterlife. The artifact was found in a woman’s grave in Nijmegen (Netherlands) and dates back to the 1st century CE. The artifact is located in the Het Valkhof Museum in Nijmegen.
Roman funerary altar
Roman funerary altar with an inscription. The object dates back to the 2nd century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman sculpture showing dog licking itself
Roman sculpture showing a dog licking itself. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
