Marble bust of a man
Marble bust of a man, possibly over the age of 40. Object dated to the 1st century CE; currently on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
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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.
Navigable canal for Nicomedia
Pliny the Younger began his clerk career under Emperor Domitian, but withdrew from public life, discouraged by the universal terror. He returned to politics under Emperor Trajan, who trusted him and entrusted him with the governorship of the province of Bithynia and Pontus in 109 CE. At that time, he proposed to the ruler an extremely ambitious and interesting project – the construction of a navigable canal for Nicomedia, which would bypass the Bosphorus. It was also planned to build a series of aqueducts.
People of Cantabri
Strabo, a Greek geographer and historian from the 1st century BCE in his work Geography mentions the people of Cantabria with whom Rome was at war in the years 29-19 BCE They were finally defeated only in 19 BCE by the troops of Marcus Agrippa. The war was the last phase of the Roman conquest of Spain.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla began his political career thanks to courtesan
The later dictator of the Roman republic, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, also known as Felix because of his allegedly favourable fortune throughout his life, could start a political career thanks to his acquaintance with a person through whom his contemporary political career could rather collapse completely.
Beautifully preserved Roman marble relief
Beautifully preserved Roman marble relief that dates back to the 1st century CE. This type of decoration was often found in private gardens of Roman houses. The stone shows Menada, the worshiper of Dionysus (Bacchus) and Silenus, the god of nature, who also accompanied the god of wine and fun. The object was discovered in Pompeii and is now on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Roman golden ring with parrot
Roman gold ring with engraved parrot in green chalcedony. Scientists believe that the parrot belongs to the species rose-ringed parakeet – a bird that occurs, among others in India and which Alexander the Great had a chance to see. The object is dated to the 1st century CE.
Romans against ecology
Currently, the Mediterranean area is heavily deforested. Deforestation during the Roman period was the result of the Empire’s territorial expansion, population growth, large-scale agriculture and rapid economic development.
Prominent claimants to throne after death of Commodus
Murder of Commodus at the end of 192 CE it ended the reign of the Antonine dynasty and certainly the best period of the existence of the Roman empire. He was succeeded by Pertynax, a respected senator and efficient leader of Marcus Aurelius, chosen by the conspirators. Unfortunately, however, the financial and internal discipline that Pertinax tried to impose in Rome led to his murder by the praetorians in March 193 CE.
