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.

Roman bust dated to period of Julio-Claudian dynasty

Roman bust dated to the period of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (27 BCE – 68 CE). The object is made of marble and shows a middle-aged man, perhaps even Sextus Pompey, son of Pompey the Great…Więcej

Syncretism of Christianity

One of the tendencies existing in early Christianity, which was difficult to resist, was syncretism. It manifested itself in the desire to inscribe the new faith into the general cultural context of the epoch. Thanks…Więcej

Roman mosaic showing boxer and rooster

Part of a Roman wall mosaic showing a boxer on a podium. The man has antique gloves (caestus) on his hands. Below it is a panel depicting a rooster approaching a shelf with a pine…Więcej

Caesar disregarded Senate

When members of the Roman Senate came to Julius Caesar to inform him of the award of special distinctions, he did not get up at the sight of them, as was customary, and did not…Więcej

Fragments of fresco showing Maenad and Satyr

Fragments of a fresco showing Maenad and Satyr. Object dated to the 1st century CE. Discovered in Pompeii; the artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. Maenads and Satyrs were mythological companions of…Więcej

History of duel of Marcus Valerius Corvus

Titus Livius mentions an interesting clash. In 349 BCE Roman Republic was still conducting numerous wars with its neighbours, aimed at gaining dominance in Italy. There were also fights with the Gauls – from the…Więcej

Impressive Roman sculpture showing Hercules

Impressive Roman sculpture showing Hercules at rest. It is a copy, dated to the 2nd-3rd century CE, of a Greek original from the 4th century BCE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in…Więcej

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. Citizens were told that the…Więcej

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…Więcej

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…Więcej

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