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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.

PR of Octavian Augustus

The emperor’s biographer Octavian Augustus, Patricia Southern, is convinced that the first emperor had a specially delegated group of specialists who took care of the ruler’s good image and publicity.

23 February 2023

Roman locks

Roman locks that were discovered in cities destroyed by Vesuvius in 79 CE. The objects are made of bronze and date back to the 1st century CE. The artifacts are in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

22 February 2023

What did gladius mean in colloquial speech?

As we know, the ancients were extremely promiscuous in their paintings and other works of art. There are many examples of Roman frescoes with visible phallus or inscriptions referring to sexual matters. As it turns out, the Romans also liked to use sexual comparisons in colloquial speech.

22 February 2023

Roman tombstone of Marcus Antonius Trophimus and his wife

Roman tombstone of Marcus Antonius Trophimus and his wife. The images of the deceased couple were placed on the stone. The man was a merchant in woolen coats and belonged to the Augustales college, which honored the memory of Emperor Augustus. Object dated to the reign of Hadrian (117-138 CE).

21 February 2023

Haruspices – divination from insides

Haruspices were priests who were active long ago. Originally, they appeared in the state of Mari (northern Mesopotamia) and the Hittites. Then the haruspices appeared in Etruria. Etruscans were taken over by the ancient Romans. Haruspices began to appear in Rome during the Punic Wars (mid-3rd century BCE). Haruspices gave advice to both the state and individuals.

21 February 2023

Etruscan inscriptions on a bronze liver of a sheep from Piacenza

Roman altar Carrick Stone

Roman altar, now called the Carrick Stone, which is located in Scotland. The object is dated to the 60s of the 2nd century CE. It is located halfway between Glasgow and Falkirk, close to Antoninus’ wall.

20 February 2023

What places did ancient Romans travel to in their spare time?

Tourism and holidays are not just modern inventions. Already in Roman times, the inhabitants of the Empire often travelled and went on vacation. The Romans began to travel on a massive scale during the reign of Octavian Augustus (reigned 27 BCE – 14 CE).

20 February 2023

What places did ancient Romans travel to in their spare time?

Civil wars erased from memory

Roman civil wars in the 1st century BCE, they harmed the good name of the nation and the state to such an extent that the first emperor – Octavian Augustus ordered the destruction of all documents related to this fratricidal fight.

19 February 2023

Elderly people in ancient Rome

Elders played an important role in Rome, based on the privileges granted to them by Roman law. The Romans both criticized and admired the old. They treated them individually and without referring to the whole problem of old age. Problems with old age were noticed independently: demographic, political, social, as well as psychological and medical.

19 February 2023

Bust of an elderly man - the so-called patrician of Torlonia

Roman marble bust of man

Roman marble bust of a man. The object is dated to the 3rd century CE. The sculpture was improved in the 4th and 6th centuries. The artifact was discovered in the agora in Thessalonica. The object is in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (Greece).

18 February 2023

Curiosities of ancient Rome

PR of Octavian Augustus

Roman locks

What did gladius mean in colloquial speech?

Roman tombstone of Marcus Antonius Trophimus and his wife

Haruspices – divination from insides

Roman altar Carrick Stone

What places did ancient Romans travel to in their spare time?

Civil wars erased from memory

Elderly people in ancient Rome

Roman marble bust of man

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Curiosities of ancient Rome

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