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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.
Roman oil lamp (lucerna) is an everyday item that was widely used in ancient Rome to illuminate homes, temples and other spaces. Made of clay, bronze, and sometimes marble, these lamps had a characteristic shape with a spout for the wick, which was immersed in olive oil – the main fuel for this type of lamp.
One of the most famous athletes of the ancient world was Milo of Croton. He was a Greek, and his fame even reached Rome and survived for centuries. Milo was a legendary wrestler who lived in the 6th century BCE and was a six-time winner of the Olympic Games and a six-time winner of the Delphi Games. His strength and skills were so impressive that his figure became an inspiration in Roman culture, and his exploits were even written about in Rome.
In ancient Rome, a fibula was a type of decorative pin, used mainly as a fastener for clothing such as tunics or coats. It was an important element of the wardrobe, serving both a practical and decorative function.
Sculpture showing a boy in his youth, from the 1st century CE. The object was discovered in the Tomb of Licinius in Rome. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).
Roman stamp used to mint Roman coins. This is an extremely rare artifact of this type that has survived to this day. The object was discovered in Lugdunum (now Lyon, France), on the site of a former mint. Dated to 14-37 CE.
Roman sculpture depicting Philip II, king of Macedon from 359-336 BCE, who was the father of the famous Alexander the Great. The object is a copy of a Greek original from the 4th century BCE. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).
Mummified child’s hand holding a Roman coin. Currently kept in the Denon Museum in Chalon-sur-Saône, France.
Sculpture of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. The object dates back to 30-20 BCE. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).
Although both the municipality and the Roman colony refer to forms of urban organization in ancient Rome, they differed significantly in terms of administrative structure, autonomy, and relations with central authority. Understanding these differences is crucial for a fuller comprehension of the functioning of the Roman legal and administrative system.
Domus Transitoria is a very mysterious palace, about which much less is known than about other residences of Roman emperors. Other palaces of the Caesars: Domus Augustea, Domus Tiberiana, Domus Augustana, and Domus Flavia, Domus Severiana and even Domus Aurea) can still be admired on Palatine Hill or extensive ruins nearby. Meanwhile, surprisingly little is known about Nero’s first palace. Suetonius writes in the Lives of the Caesars that Nero built it to connect various residences inherited from his ancestors on the Palatine, Velia, Oppius and Esquiline. But this palace was destroyed during the great fire of Rome in 64 CE. Nero did not rebuild it, and on its ruins, he soon built Domus Aurea.
