Maybe they are just the ancient equivalent of "Kjlroy was here".

Aurora was the ancient Roman equivalent of Eos.

"This is the ancient equivalent of the Beatles' famous Rolls-Royce."

In many ways, baths were the ancient Roman equivalent of community centres.

Larger units of monetary value and exchange such as the talent were the ancient equivalents of the modern 400-troy-ounce "good delivery" gold bullion bar.

Tessera (commerce) was the ancient Roman equivalent of a theater ticket.

Aristotle's successors, the Peripatetics, founded a school, in effect the ancient equivalent of a university.

Its use was for training and exercise and is the ancient equivalent to a large complicated gymnasium.

Whoever found the mummy case must have promptly pried it open, ruining the ancient equivalent of a lock.

A tessera was the ancient Roman equivalent of a theater ticket.