Children loved to play with toys in #Roman times too: some 1,800 years ago, a child in Cologne was buried with a terracotta #horse with a rider on wheels. It was certainly a much-loved #toy which the child was also supposed to play with in the afterlife.
Fascinating world of ancient #glass: A #Roman glass model of a #boat, dating 2nd c. AD. It was found in St. Aldegund in a 4th-century woman's grave. Six of such boats are known. We don't know their function: Were they used as women's urinals, as components of water clocks and sundials, as drinking cups?
These #Roman glass spherical bottles would make great #Christmas baubles🎄, but they were used to hold perfume and loose powder. The contents were sealed inside the delicate cosmetic containers and a small knob at the top had to be broken off to remove the oil/powder.
Found in Trier, dating 1st/2nd century AD.
For #MosaicMonday a #Roman mosaic showing the labyrinth of the Minotaur on Crete. The monster’s head is depicted in the centre. The simple depiction is alluding to the myth of Theseus, in which the Greek hero slays the Minotaur in the labyrinth with the help of Ariadne’s thread.
The mosaic was found in the peristyle of the House of the Fountain in Conimbriga/Portugal, dating 3rd century AD.
#RomanSiteSaturday: An amazing aerial view of Timgad/Algeria.
The Colonia Marciana Traiana Thamugadi was founded in 100 AD. Its plan, laid out with great precision, is #Roman urban planning at its best.
A fancy #Roman leather #shoe, a so-called carbatina. It's made of a single piece of leather and decorated with openwork and carefully arrangements of loops.
The size (lenght 28 cm) suggests that it was worn by a tall person (or by a short person with very large feet).
Found in civilian settlement of the Saalburg fort, dating 2nd century AD.
XXL transport containers: Two huge #Roman wooden barrels in an outstanding state of preservation, found in Xanten. Both had a capacity of approx. 1250 l and were used to transport #wine from the Mediterranean region to the Lower Rhine. They were recycled for lining wells.
An absolutely fantastic #Roman barge, "De Meern 1", lenght 25m. It was wrecked in a winding tributary of the Rhine around the year 190 AD, possibly due to navigational error. Much of the barge's interior and the captain's personal belongings were preserved in the cabin, including a collection of tools. It allows an extraordinary glimpse into life aboard a vessel.
On display at Castellum Hoge Woerd, The Netherlands
Working #women are frequently attested in the #Roman empire: the funerary stele of Sentia Amarantis depicts the deceased tapping wine from a barrel. She was an inn-keeper and died at the age of 45. The stele was set up by her husband.
From Augusta Emerita/Mérida, Spain, dating 3rd century AD.
A #Roman terracotta tintinnabulum (wind chime) found in Merida, Spain: A bell-shaped humanoid figure with legs providing the clapper and the hooded cloak providing the bell. The words TYDIDES are inscribed (the owner’s name?). 2nd c. AD.
Fascinating world of ancient #glass: an amazing #Roman glass garland bowl, that represents a peak of Roman glassmaker’s skill at producing vessels. Very few ancient vessels were made of large sections or bands of different colored glass, and this is the only known example that combines the technique with millefiori (mosaik glass) decoration. Dating late 1st century BC.
Apparently, it's #WorldToiletDay: the public latrines in #Ostia are among the best-preserved #Roman latrines. The benches are made of marble, they run along three walls - no stalls, there was no privacy in toilets in Roman times.
A very stylish #Roman woman's shoe with a decorative pattern punched into the leather. Found in a well in the civilian settlement of the Saalburg fort. The damp environment preserved the shoe in a very good condition.
Dating 2nd century AD.
Fascinating world of ancient #glass: One of my favourite #Roman objects made of glass is this little basket (height 6.5cm).
From Syria, dating 3rd century AD.
A fibula (pin for fastening garments) in the form of a #frog. Animal-shaped fibulae were popular in the northwestern provinces of the #Roman empire. It has been suggested that frogs had an apotropaic value (i. e. to avert evil), but there is no evidence for this
Fascinating world of ancient #glass: unique #Roman flasks in the shape of a pair of sandals. They were used to hold oil or perfume.
Found in a woman's burial in Cologne, dating late 2nd/early 3rd c. AD.
For #InternationalWomensDay a funerary stela of a female #physician. In the Inscription she is referred to as MEDICA. This is not the only #Roman female doctor we know. There is quite a few literary and epigraphic evidence for female physicians in the ancient world.