Ah, Ancient Rome. Certainly one of the most influential cultures of all time. They were so massive, they called the Mediterranean “Mare Nostrum,” meaning “Our Sea.”
But we’re not just here to witness the giant tales of Rome – we’re here to find out the little weird bits of Roman history. What’s it like in a Roman Bath? What did the streets of Pompeii smell like? Just make sure your toga looks legit. We need to blend in.
You may want to take notes on these bizarre tales before we go. You won’t be able to check the details on your phone once we’re there. The less confused you are, the lower the chances of corrupting the timeline.
The Laocoon: Rome’s buried and botched disaster of a statue (VIDEO INSIDE)
Laocoön and His Sons is the most famous statue from Ancient Rome. Now in the Vatican, it spent centuries as a botched disaster.
Pompeii’s exploding skulls and the failed rescue of the volcanic victims of Vesuvius (VIDEO ADDED)
The volcanic eruption of Vesuvius didn’t come all at once. But for one group of locals, rescue came just moments too late.
Vanished from History: The giant Golden Menorah, still visible on the Arch of Titus in Rome
We know it existed. We can literally see an image of it right now on one of the most famous structures in Rome. But where is the Golden Menorah of Jerusalem?
Pantheon Columns: 120,000 pounds each of solid granite, brought all the way from Egypt
The structure is known for being the best preserved piece of Ancient Rome, but the Pantheon columns are the real story here. Were they moved by elephants? Probably not, but let’s just pretend.
Roman Baths: Home to pickpockets and tapeworms
We tend to think of the Ancient Romans as having excellent hygiene, but a peek behind the curtains of the Roman baths will likely show rooms teeming with all sorts of nasty creatures.
The best preserved house from Vesuvius, home to Herculaneum’s favorite son
Most of the homes destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius are in pretty bad shape. This one’s in Herculaneum, and may be the best preserved of them all.
The Boy Slave: a funerary bust shares clues about the life of a Roman slave
Roman slaves were everywhere in the Empire. And yes, some of them were little kids. But how were they treated? And who made this bust of one?
Pompeii’s Villa of the Mysteries is an actual mystery, possibly showing a wine-drinking cult
It sounds like nonsense Pompeii’s marketing director would come up with — but the Villa of the Mysteries contains an actual hippie-laden mystery.
The victims of Pompeii share stories of their agonizing final moments
Pompeii is a city of living ghosts, even though most escaped. But those left behind have a wealth of tales to tell.
Pompeii Pygmies: The weirdest fresco in Ancient Rome
A bizarre image of little Pompeii pygmies, apparently attacking dinosaurs with a potato. What’s the story behind this bizarre fever dream?
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