Curiosities of ancient Rome

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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.

I encourage you to submit your own suggestions and to report any corrections or inaccuracies.

Shops of ancient Romans

What is a store and what is done in it probably everyone knows. It may come as a surprise to some that shops already existed in ancient Rome. Roman shops, which were called tabernae 1…Więcej

Travel cart

It may come as a surprise to many that the Romans ran cart rentals, but it’s true! 1 Singular - taberna Coach houses where you could rent a car were located mainly near the city…Więcej

Roman fresco showing priest of Egyptian goddess Isis

Roman fresco showing a priest of the Egyptian goddess Isis reading from papyrus. The object was discovered in the temple of Isis in Pompeii; dated to the 1st century CE. Isis was the Egyptian goddess…Więcej

Galen and mental problems

Galen was a Roman physician of Greek descent who lived in the 2nd century CE. He was considered in his time to be a great expert in human anatomy and a physician. Interestingly, he also…Więcej

Roman grave of dog from 1st century CE

Roman grave of a dog from the 1st century CE. The way the animal was buried proves that it was an important member of the family. A vessel was found in the grave, and the…Więcej

Roman mosaic showing parrots pulling two-wheeled chariot

Roman mosaic showing parrots pulling a two-wheeled chariot. The scene refers to the famous triumphal procession of Dionysus (Bacchus) and may symbolize wealth and prosperity. Object dated to the 3rd century CE; is in the…Więcej

CE and BCE: where did “eras” come from?

Have you ever wondered when marking dates according to the time that has passed since the death of Jesus appeared? As it turns out, the matter is not as obvious as it might seem. It…Więcej

Roman fresco showing Amor riding crab

Roman fresco showing Amor riding a crab. Object discovered in the House of the Vettii in Pompeii.Więcej

Hyena on Roman mosaic

Hyena on a Roman mosaic. Object dated to the 2nd century CE; discovered in Tunisia. According to the ancient Romans, hyenas were amazing animals. Pliny the Elder states in his “Natural History” that the hyena…Więcej

Agrippa’s villa on Tiber

In 1880, during the construction of the Tiber embankments near Villa Farnesina in Trastevere, a very interesting discovery was made: large fragments of a luxurious residence from the reign of Emperor Augustus were excavated. It…Więcej

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