Gladiators were the heroes of the Roman era, so it should come as no surprise that children back then also wanted to play with gladiator figures. One of them is even exhibited in the Roman-Germanic Museum in Cologne. He wears a helmet, holds a sword and a shield – you can even see his kneecaps. Of course, the figure of the gladiator is so abstract that today’s kids might think it’s… an astronaut.

Gladiator back then or… astronaut today?

Another Roman toy is a horse pulling a chariot with a rider. “ROX” and “TANS” are the two words, which are carved on the horse. These may form one word, “Roxtanus” that is, says Katrin Jaschke, curator and deputy director of the Cologne Museum Service. Perhaps this is a toy meant for a certain child, Roxtanus. Or maybe that’s what the game is called.

Most toys from Roman times have not survived because they were made of perishable materials: rag balls and wooden figures. After all, not everyone could afford to buy their children expensive toys made of terracotta…

Catherine Yaske
Catherine Jaske with the Roman horse

“A very popular game that we know from Roman literature is the simple, common nut,” explains Yaske. “The kids played with them a lot, just like we played with the boules. It was so widespread that there was even a saying about it back then: ‘Leaving the nuts behind’ – a metaphor for childhood being a thing of the past.”

The plastic of the Romans was bones

The ankles of sheep and goats were also popular games. It is a small bone, but it has four characteristic sides. With a little imagination it could be used as a versatile game, for juggling but also as a dice.

“The Romans made many things out of bones,” says Yaske. “The bones were basically their plastic. If you give them to kids today, at first they often think they’re plastic – they look so much alike.”

Christmas in ancient Rome and a child called Nero

Did children get presents for Christmas in ancient Rome? Christmas began to be celebrated no later than the last period of the Roman Empire, when Christianity had become the official state religion.

Bust of Nero as a child
Bust of Nero as a child

“We don’t know specific details,” says Katrin Jaske. “But what we do know is that the Christians placed some of their feasts on established pagan feasts. And December 24th, 25th and 26th were previously holidays dedicated to the god Mithras, who was also a figure of “redemption” and therefore very close to the ideas of Christianity.

The Romans also celebrated the so-called Saturnalia from December 17 to 27, a mixture of religious festival and carnival. “And then gifts were also given”says the expert from Cologne.

Incidentally, the Romano-Germanic Museum also has a bust of a child on permanent display. She looks really real, even if the nose is broken. However, the sweet child depicted grew into a…not-so-kind adult: Emperor Nero.

Edited by: Chrysa Vachtsevanu