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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.
Cameo showing Hercules fighting the Lion of Nemea. His skin was so hard that no blade could pierce him and he could only be killed by suffocation. According to mythology, killing a lion and bringing its skin was the first of Hercules’ twelve labors. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman fresco showing the mask of Zeus Ammon, a Greco-Egyptian deity combining the features of the Egyptian god Amun and the Greek Zeus. His image was often depicted with ram’s horns. The object was discovered in Stabiae in Ariadne’s villa. Dated to the 1st century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
During the Republic, consuls were the highest state officials elected by a popular assembly called centurial committees (comitia centuriata). The election of consuls was the most important day in the Roman political calendar. When the empire later came, the office of consul became an honorary title, and centurial commissions died out. How did this happen?
Terracotta sarcophagus from Roman times in the shape of a bed. The object was painted in bright colors; on the sarcophagus we see a woman resting under a cover, with her head on a pillow. The artifact was discovered in Corinth.
Roman sculpture depicting Aphrodite from the 1st century CE. The object is a copy of a Greek original from the 5th century BCE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Fragment of a Roman fresco showing the bow of a ship. The painted eyes decorating the front of the ship attract attention. The object dates back to the 1st century BCE; discovered in Pompeii. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman fresco showing a landscape. Object discovered in Herculaneum; was temporarily on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. Dated to 1st BCE – 1st century CE.
Roman tombstone belonging to a Roman family from an unknown family. We see images of nine people on the stone. The object is dated to the 2nd century CE; the artifact is located in the Archaeological Museum of Amphipolis (Gecia).
Roman coin (denarius) from the period of the Republic (76 BCE) showing the globe with a scepter and a rudder. The object was minted on the orders of Gnaeus Lentulus.
Roman fresco showing the sensual dance of the Nymph and the Satyr during a procession. The object dates back to the 1st century CE; discovered in Pompeii. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
