antique collectibles: roman artifacts
Roman artifacts are items created during Roman times relating specifically to Roman society and culture. The Roman Empire (Latin: Imperium Romanum [?m'p?ri.u? ro?'ma?nu?]; Koine Greek: ?as??e?a t?? ??µa???, romanized: Basileía ton Rhomaíon) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia ruled by emperors. From the accession of Caesar Augustus to the military anarchy of the 3rd century, it was a principate with Italy as metropole of the provinces and the city of Rome as sole capital (27 BC – AD 286). After the military crisis, the empire was ruled by multiple emperors who shared rule over the Western Roman Empire and over the Eastern Roman Empire (also known as the Byzantine Empire). Rome remained the nominal capital of both parts until AD 476, when the imperial insignia were sent to Constantinople, following the capture of Ravenna by the barbarians of Odoacer and the subsequent deposition of Romulus Augustulus.