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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 bust showing man

Roman bust showing a man, probably Claudius Marcellus (no information on which one). The object dates back to the mid-1st century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Roman bust showing man

Roman fresco showing animal carcasses

Roman fresco showing the carcasses of animals: a chicken, a hare and a partridge. The object was discovered in Herculaneum. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Roman fresco showing animal carcasses

Engraved portrait of Roman man

Engraved portrait of a Roman man (possibly Caracalla) on sapphire. The object dates back to the 3rd century CE. The artifact is located in the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore (USA).

Engraved portrait of Roman man

Father sacrifices his daughter’s life…

Ancient times were cruel. The stories recorded in Greek and Roman myths echo the helplessness of people in the face of their surroundings, and the fear of the judgments of the gods symbolizes human weakness in the face of powerful but incomprehensible forces of nature and blind fate. He tests everyone – the rich and the poor, the honest and the deceitful, the virtuous and the dissolute, the humble and the proud. From here it is only a step to the feeling of lack of any agency and simple submission to fate. Especially when the gods put people in an impossible situation…

Agamemnon offering his daughter Iphigenia as a sacrifice to the goddess Artemis

Unfinished Roman sculpture

Unfinished Roman sculpture from the 2nd century CE. The object depicts a naked male figure. For unknown reasons, the sculptor did not finish his work. The artifact was discovered in Veria, Macedonia.

Unfinished Roman sculpture

Roman sculpture depicting Apollo

Roman sculpture showing Apollo seated with a lyre. The object was made of porphyry. Dated to the 2nd century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Roman sculpture depicting Apollo

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