Bull heads like these were used throughout ancient Greece and Rome to both ward off evil spirits and symbolize strength and power.

This ritual was so entrenched in daily life that, to many citizens, it was nothing less than a symbol of Rome itself. To Romans, the baths proved that they were cleaner – and therefore better ...

Built in A.D. 52 by Claudius, this multipurpose triumphal arch fused both beauty and practicality, standing as a conspicuous symbol of Roman innovation and power. Photograph by Paolo Gaetano/Getty ...