Random Weird Oddities Found At Pompeii That Aren't Bodies (18 items)

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  (#1) A Butchered Giraffe Bone

  Excavations of the downtown region of Pompeii, where many citizens enjoyed meals in restaurants, revealed some unexpected cuisine. Food widely available in the region, like fish, olives, chicken, and eggs, was discovered. However, more exotic food choices were also present. Archeologists found the leg joint of a giraffe amongst the ruins.

  This was the only giraffe bone ever to be found in Roman Italy. Researchers assume the giraffe meat was the result of long distance trading. In addition to a giraffe bone, they found evidence of other exotic food options that may have been popular in Pompeii: archeologists also dug up remnants of non-native shellfish and sea urchins.
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  (#2) 81 Loaves Of Carbonized Bread

  When a bakery was excavated in Pompeii, 81 loaves of carbonized bread were found. It is eerie to see food preserved for almost 2,000 years, as it’s a reminder that Mount Vesuvius erupted on an otherwise uneventful day. Bread was simply sitting in the bakery, waiting to be purchased and eaten, when disaster struck.
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  (#3) Master/Slave Arm Band

  Sexual relationships between masters and slaves were common in Ancient Rome. Evidence of this was uncovered in Pompeii. Researchers discovered a gold band inscribed with the words “Dominus ancillae suae,” meaning “From the master to the slave.” This was likely a gift given from a master to show appreciation for an intimate slave/master relationship.
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  (#4) Statue Of Apollo That Belonged To Nero's Nephew

  One eerie thing about objects from Pompeii is that, despite being over 3,000 years old, many look like modern creations. The home of Quintus Poppeus, a wealthy nephew of Roman Emperor Nero, was found stocked with many objects. The most notable was an extremely well-preserved statue of the god Apollo stroking a griffin. Those who have seen the statue on display claim it looks brand new.
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  (#5) Numerous "Beware Of Dog" Signs

  Guard dogs have been popular since dogs were first domesticated. Archeologists found mosaics with pictures of guard dogs near the homes of many Pompeii citizens. The words “Cave Canem” were written on the signs, which roughly translates to “Beware of Dog.”
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  (#6) Dozens Of Snack Bars

  Superintendent Massimo Ossana shared the discovery of about 150 snack bars, or thermopolia, in Regio V - a 54 acre dig site. These snack bars were reportedly used by impoverished families who could not afford to cook at home. They reportedly served "coarse bread with salty fish, baked cheese, lentils, and spicy wine," according to The Guardian.
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  (#7) Preserved Graffiti Messages

  Graffiti preserved from Pompeii is particularly haunting as it’s a reminder of the humanity of those lost. Despite being many centuries old, the graffiti found in Pompeii is similar in nature to modern graffiti. Political messages, insults, declarations of love, and advertisements were found etched into the walls of Pompeii.

  One bit of graffiti in Pompeii reads, “Gaius Pumidius Diphilus was here,” alongside a time stamp noting the date, October 3rd, 78 B.C. In the modern era, many people still inscribe buildings with similar messages. It’s a reminder that the desire to mark one’s existence is an inherent part of human nature.
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  (#8) Human Skull

  In the ruins of a home, archeologists uncovered a skull. While it may be a victim of the aftermath of Mount Vesuvius’s eruption, this remains unclear. Researchers think the skull may be that of an enemy soldier murdered in Pompeii. It may also be an ancestor’s skull that was put on display in the home out of respect.
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  (#9) Good Luck Charms

  The House of Golden Bracelets was a luxurious three story home where bodies of a family of four were found huddling under the staircase. The objects found scattered around the family are almost as haunting as the bodies themselves. Amongst the coins and jewelry, there was one particularly poignant bracelet made in the shape of a two-headed snake. In ancient Italy, snakes were a symbol of good luck. The family may have grabbed this bracelet while seeking cover in hopes of protection.
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  (#10) Wooden Window Shutters At The Villa Oplontis

  Shared by a Redditor in May 2020, this is a plaster cast of wooden window shutters that were buried during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Located at the Villa Oplontis, the aristocratic home was richly decorated and may have been associated with the Roman Emperor Nero's second wife, Poppaea.  
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  (#11) Sack Containing Prized Posessions

  When the explosion occurred, citizens grabbed what they could as they fled for their lives. The body of a man found in an alleyway was holding a sack containing jewelry, coins, and the keys to his home. It’s unclear why the man grabbed the keys, as he must have known his home would be destroyed by the lava.
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  (#12) Medical Kit To Help The Wounded

  The items found on bodies in Pompeii are often as sad as the preserved corpses themselves. Near the city center, the bodies of over 100 victims were preserved after the volcanic eruption were found. One body was clutching a medical kit containing tweezers, scalpels, and other surgical tools. Perhaps this was the body of a doctor who may have grabbed the kit before fleeing his home in hopes it could be used to help those injured.
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  (#13) Cremation Urn

  Archeologists found a glass urn buried in a Pompeii cemetery. The urn was protected with a terra cotta casing. In addition to ashes, there were bones and a bronze coin inside the urn. Some Pompeii citizens believed bronze coins could be used as payment for the dead to be transported to the underworld.
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  (#14) Statue Of Mercury, The God Of Safe Passage

  Many citizens who fled Pompeii grabbed valued items as they made their way out of the city. Near the city gates, the body of a woman was found holding a gold-and-silver statue of the god Mercury. Mercury was believed to be the god of safe passage. Tragically, the woman may have grabbed the statue while fleeing the city in hopes the charm would get her out safely.
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  (#15) Statue Of Alexander The Great

  Statues displayed in the city revealed cultural icons respected in ancient Rome. One such statue was preserved after the Pompeii disaster. A bronze statue of Alexander the Great was uncovered. While it was mostly well preserved, the statue is missing a sphere Alexander once held.
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  (#16) Armor Of Slain Gladiators

  Pompeii had an amphitheater made for blood sports, where warriors would often engage in bloody battles that ended in execution. Losers were stripped of their armor before being put to death. When archeologists excavated Pompeii, they found helmets, armor, and weaponry from fallen gladiators in the barracks of the amphitheater.
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  (#17) Amulets And Gems Used For Protection And Vanity

  Archeologists uncovered a collection of ornate objects made from faïence, bronze, bone, amber, glass, and gems preserved under volcanic material. They were found in a room in what is known as the House of the Garden in the Regio V. The wooden box they were stored in had decayed to the point that only its bronze hinges remained.

  The ornaments, which likely belonged to one or several females, were used for protection or for vanity. The item are decorative, and the excavation director Massimo Osanna says they represent "micro-stories, biographies of the inhabitants of the city who tried to escape the eruption." Researchers hope to uncover a DNA analysis which could potentially link the gems to modern descendants of the victims. 

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