A comprehensive collection of exquisite artifacts, providing an overview of Roman civilization from the 8th century BCE to the fifth century CE. If all the portable artifacts of Ancient Rome were in a single location, the lives of students, historians and connoisseurs would be immeasurably simpler – but the objects are housed in museums all over the world. This book identifies nearly 200 of the most significant of these, describing them vividly to illuminate the cultural relevance of each in commemorating a great event or heralding the start of a new era in creativity or politics. From coins of the 5th century BCE to pottery made at the time of the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, each object reveals an important insight into this highly influential ancient civilization.