Romans, Monkeys, and a Cemetery That Makes No Sense! #romanempire

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]Archaeologists have found something extremely strange, an animal cemetery that makes no sense. In the ancient Roman port of Berenike on the Red Sea, researchers discovered dozens of carefully arranged animal graves. But some of these finds don't fit the picture of the Roman world at all.

[00:00:18]Among the buried animals were primarily exotic monkeys from India, animals brought here from thousands of miles away. And then they made an even stranger discovery. Some of these monkeys weren't buried alone, but together with cats, dogs, [music] and even small piglets. They also found jewelry and food as grave goods. Some researchers [music] even speculate these could have been the monkeys' own pets.

[00:00:40]Why were these monkeys treated this way?

[00:00:42]Buried with pets, jewelry, and food, almost like humans. Was it a status symbol for Roman soldiers? Extreme affection toward the monkeys? Or a clue that these animals meant more to the Romans than just pets?

[00:00:55]Or were these bizarre rituals we're only now discovering and still trying to understand? What do you think? Pet cemetery or just extreme love for animals?

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