Preserved stone stairs in Pompeii
Preserved stone stairs in Pompeii. Not many floors remained in the destroyed city as the buildings collapsed under the weight of falling ash and volcanic material.
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Curiosities of ancient Rome
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 sculpture showing bust of Hercules
Roman sculpture showing the bust of Hercules. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman sculpture depicting Aphrodite
Roman sculpture depicting Aphrodite (Venus). The object is a Roman copy (from the 1st century CE) of a Greek original from the 5th century BCE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Fragment of Roman sarcophagus showing Diana and Endymion
Fragment of a Roman sarcophagus showing Diana, the goddess of nature, and Endymion, the shepherd. The object dates back to the 2nd century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Antinous shown as Bacchus
Roman sculpture of Antinous, depicted as Bacchus. The object dates back to the 2nd century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Roman relief showing Pan riding mule
Roman relief showing Pan, the guardian deity of forests and fields, riding a mule. The object is a Roman copy of a Greek original. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Round tablet depicting scene of Hercules catching Ceryneian hind
Round tablet depicting the scene of Hercules catching the Ceryneian hind. This was the third labor of Hercules and was extremely difficult to perform because the animal was very fast; the hero needed a year for this. The object dates back to the 1st century CE; discovered in Pompeii. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Fragment of Roman fresco from tavern in Pompeii
Fragment of a Roman fresco from a tavern in Pompeii. The inscription in Greek reads: “Here lives the son of Zeus, Heracles the glorious conqueror; let evil stay away”. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Sculptures showing Harmodios and Aristogeiton
Sculptures showing Harmodios and Aristogeiton, murderers of the sons of the Greek tyrant Pisistrates – Hipparchus and Hippias. The sculptures are a Roman copy from the 2nd century CE. The originals once decorated the Athenian agora, as proof of the victory of Athenian democracy and freedom.
