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Curiosities of ancient Rome
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.
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Roman fresco showing two young women
Roman fresco from Herculaneum showing two young women, where one of them holds a wax tablet and a stylus for writing. Object dated to the 1st century CE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.
Reason of war with Tarentum
In 282 BCE, Roman Republic was asked to intervene in the case of the Greek city of Thurii1, which was being raided by Lucanians and Brucians. When the Romans entered the bay of Tarentum, they regarded it as breaking the mutual agreement not to enter the bay with Roman ships.
Roman cameo showing goose
Roman cameo of a goose, a bird dedicated to Goddess Juno. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.
Mare Nostrum (“Our Sea”)
The Mediterranean Sea in Roman times was the internal sea of the Roman Empire. For this reason, the Romans used to call it mare nostrum, literally “our sea”. This term appears for the first time during the conquest of Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica during the First Punic War.
Sculpture of emperor Antoninus Pius
Sculpture of emperor Antoninus Pius, who reigned in the Roman Empire in the years 138-161 CE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.
Alcoholism among Romans
Alcoholism is not only a social problem of modern times. Already Lucretius, a Roman poet from the 1st century BCE, mentions alcoholism as a plague affecting the then elites among others, famous writers of the 1st century CE Seneca the Younger or Pliny the Elder prove the existence of a real social problem.
Roman fresco showing woman combing her hair
Roman fresco showing a woman combing her hair. The object is dated to the 1st century CE and was discovered in Stabiae. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.
Octavian hated flattery
Emperor Octavian Augustus hated flattery – when one day during the show, the artist addressed him with the words “O just and gracious Lord!” Augustus rebuked him for this in a public proclamation. He even forbade his children and grandchildren to refer to him as “Lord”.
