Tag Archives: Ancient Rome

Exploring the Romans

Roman Towns, Forts and Museums

Since I began presenting my Roman Workshop Day in schools I have visited as many archaeological sites and museums as possible in order to gather information, add to my existing knowledge and create my own photographic record for use in my school visits. Here are some of the wonderful places I have been able to explore so far.

Aldborough, Roman Town

In Roman times Aldborough was the civitas capital of the Brigantes tribal area. It was therefore an important centre of local government. Remains of the town wall can be seen as well as some very fine mosaic floors. There is a very small museum located at the entrance.

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Arbeia, Roman Fort

Originally a fort but later a main supply depot.  Although South Shields is not on the “tourist trail” for Hadrian’s Wall this site is well worth a visit. There is a reconstruction of a gate house, commandant’s quarters and a barrack block. The small on site museum also contains some very interesting objects.

Binchester, Roman Fort

Just on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland lies Binchester, a Roman cavalry fort. The bath house can be explored and parts of the barracks and the roman road “Dere Street” are also uncovered.

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Caerleon, Roman Legionary Fortress

Once the home to 5,000 Roman legionary soldiers, the fortress covers a considerable area. Some of the barrack blocks are visible together with the amphitheatre, baths and perimeter walls.

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Chesters, Roman Fort

Built where Hadrian’s Wall crosses the River Tyne, Chesters has an excellent museum with a huge selection of finds on display. Much of the fort can be explored and down by the river are the remains of the bath house.

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Chichester, Roman Town

Look at a modern day map of Chichester and you can immediately see the layout of the town centre follows the original Roman town plan. The museum in the town centre is built on the site of the public baths and later Roman town walls are still in existence.

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Colchester, Roman Town

This is where the Emperor Claudius came to accept the surrender of the south eastern tribes following the invasion of AD43. It was the first Roman Colonia and was burnt to the ground by Boudicca during the rebellion of AD60. Colchester has the only known circus for chariot racing in Britain. The castle museum has a floor devoted to Roman times with many fabulous exhibits relating to all aspects of Roman life and culture.

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Corbridge, Roman Town

This must have been a very busy place in Roman times as it was the main supply base for the garrison of Hadrian’s Wall. Here you can see the remains of the Roman town, walk down the main street and enjoy the superb museum. The remains of the original fort can also be seen.

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Fishbourne Palace

It is thought that Fishbourne Palace was built by the Romans for a local British king as a reward for loyalty during the Roman conquest. It covers an extensive area although a large part of it lies beneath a local housing estate. No expense was spared in the construction of the buildings and much of the stone and marble as well as the specialist craftsmen had to be imported for the task. Whoever lived here must have been very important. There are some wonderful mosaics, a huge ornamental garden and a museum.

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Herculaneum, Roman Town

When Vesuvius erupted in AD79 the town of Herculaneum was buried under a sea of volcanic ash. Today part of the town has been excavated and some of the best preserved buildings can be seen here. Even some of the original timber beams, doors and window frames have survived.

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Hermann Monument

Under Emperor Augustus the Roman Army had been campaigning in Germany with a view to establishing control over the territory between Rhine and the River Elbe. In AD9 Germanic tribes lead by Arminius delivered a crushing defeat on the Romans wiping out three entire Roman Legions in the Teutoberg Forest. After this the Rhine became the northern frontier of the empire and a period of consolidation began. Today the Hermann monument with Arminius raising his sword in triumph is a symbol of German unification.

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Housesteads, Roman Fort

Possibly one of the most popular forts on Hadrian’s Wall here you can clearly see the layout of the buildings, the perimeter walls, gates and roads. As Houseteads is  high on a hill it has a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. There is a scale model reconstruction of the fort in the museum.

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Lincoln, Roman Town

After four years most of southern Britain had been subjugated. The Roman Army had moved forward to a line roughly between the Humber and the Severn. Two new colonia were founded. One at Gloucester and the other at Lincoln. On visiting the latter there are still some visible remains of the Roman town to be seen including parts of the original town walls.

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Mainz Museum of Ancient Shipping

Here you can see fully reconstructed Roman ships. There are warships and merchant ships some of which are full size and others scaled down. Unfortunately photography is not allowed and so I was unable to use my camera.

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Naples, Archaeological Museum

This museum contains an astonishing collection of statues, mosaics, paintings and objects from Herculaneum and Pompeii. Although not very well curated there are a great many fabulous exhibits. Well worth the effort to get to this place.

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Piercebridge, Roman Fort

Built where Dere Street crosses the River Tees, this was one of a number of forts on the line of this important road which ran from York to Corbridge, Hadrian’s Wall and beyond. Much of the fort remains are exposed and nearby the bridge abutments for the roman bridge can be seen too.

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Pompeii, Roman Town

The entire town was buried under volcanic ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. Here you can explore a complete Roman town. Visit the forums, temples, basilicas, public baths, theatres, roads, shops, houses, amphitheatre, gladiator barracks, walls, tombs. Pompeii has it all. This is the ultimate step back in time!

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Richborough, Roman Fort and Amphitheatre

When the Romans invaded in AD43 they used the Wantsum Channel as a safe anchorage and landed their army at Richborough. The remains of the earthworks they built to protect their landing area is clearly visible. Richborough became the main entry and exit point for reinforcements, supplies and people coming from Gaul. On visiting the site it is possible to trace its development over the course of Roman occupation.

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Roman Army Museum

The Roman Army Museum on Hadrian’s Wall provides detailed information about the Roman Army in Britain and particularly the units engaged in the garrisoning of the northern frontier.

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Roman Legionary Museum

A very good museum dedicated to the Roman Army. Lots of information, objects and displays explaining the organization, weapons and equipment of the army and information about the Roman Army in Britain.

Rome

The heart of the Roman Empire. The Forum Romanum, Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Baths of Caracalla, Circus Maximus, Trajan’s Market, Ara Pacis and much much more.

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Saalburg, Roman Fort

Superb restored Roman Fort in North Germany with an amazing museum including a special exhibition on Roman siege artillery. Close by is a section of the “Limes” which is the German equivalent of Hadrian’s Wall built to protect the land between the natural obstacles of the Rhine and Danube rivers.

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Segedunum, Roman Fort

The viewing tower allows a birds eye view of the fort. There is also a reconstructed bath house and an excellent museum.

Trier, Roman Town

From 260 to 274 AD Britain was part of the breakaway Gallic Empire. For this period Britain was governed from Trier which was the capital city of the Gallic Empire. There are lots of interesting Roman sites here including three bath complexes, a basilica ( now a church ), an amphitheatre, an excellent museum an of course the famous “Potra Nigra” city gates.

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Vindolanda, Roman Fort

Prior to the construction of Hadrian’s Wall the northern frontier in Britain followed the Stanegate line. Vindolanda was one of the forts forming part of the Stanegate line. Remains of the fort and the vicus ( civilian settlement ) are visible. The on site museum is amazing with a massive collection of finds from the site on display. It is also possible to view the Vindolanda writing tablets which give an insight into life at the fort prior to the construction of Hadrian’s Wall.

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Xanten, Roman Town and Legionary Base

Now a huge archaeological park, Xanten was one of the most important Roman bases on the Rhine frontier. Today there are many reconstructed buildings, displays and exhibitions on many aspects of life in Roman times and a superb museum.

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York, Roman Town

When the Roman Army moved north York was chosen as the site for a Legionary Fortress and later it became a colonia. York was the most important town in Britain after London. There are few visible traces of Roman buildings to be seen today however you can see part of the public baths, the Roman walls and a few columns and statues. The city museum also has many interesting Roman exhibits.

More to follow…..

My Visit To Colchester Roman Circus

Chariot Racing in Britain

Colchester Roman Circus Centre is well worth a visit. I am so glad I made the effort!

The Ancient Romans were mad about chariot racing. Colchester has the only known chariot racing circuit in Britain. If there were others they have yet to be discovered. When the Romans invaded in 43AD they made straight for the heart land of the enemy. Camulodunum was the home of important tribal leaders and a spiritual settlement named after Camulus the celtic god of war. Once opposition had been subdued the Romans took over the area and founded their first colonae which they called called Victricensis, which translated from latin means city of victory. Thousands of retired soldiers were given land here and a model Roman town was built complete with all of the amenties Roman citizens expected and this included entertainment in the form of a theatre, amphitheatre and a circus.

 

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Although nothing remains above ground of the circus building, extensive archaeological investigation has revealed the foundations and clearly the original structure was massive. It was 450 metres long with a capacity for 16,000 spectators. The only Roman building in Britain bigger than this is Hadrian’s Wall.

 

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I have been to Circus Maximus in Rome. This was the biggest circus of all. However all there is to see is a huge open field. Colchester is far more interesting. The museum although containing very few artefacts does have some excellent displays, some of which are interactive. There is a reconstructed chariot and a superb scale model showing the layout of the race track and spectator stand. Outside there is a reconstruction of the foundations of the starting gates with a window to look through showing an elevation of how this part of the stadium might have looked. Very clever idea! There is also a metal frame work set up showing the profile of the spectator stands and the lines of the inner and outer walls have been marked out in the ground.

 

Profile of spectator stands

 

For anyone interested in Ancient Rome and chariot racing then I highly recommend a visit to this place. They have done an excellent job of providing information and designing displays both indoors and outside which enable the visitor to visualize what must have been a magnificent sports stadium. To the Romans this was surely their equivalent of Wembley

The Circus Centre is only a few minutes drive from the centre of Colchester and there is a car park on Butt Road ( which was free when I went ).

Contact details are as follows:

Roman Circus Centre, Roman Circus House, Roman Circus Walk, Colchester, CO2 7GZ.

Tel 01206 501785

www.thecolchesterarchaeologist.co.uk

 

Related articles

Imagining Ancient Rome

Rome As It Might Have Been

At its zenith the ancient City of Rome was the capital of the civilized world with an estimated population of over a million people. Its vibrancy was the heart beat of the Empire.

It is hard for us to imagine what it must have been like to walk through crowded, teaming, noisy, bustling streets or what we could expect to see in the the forums or bascillicas.

The Forum, Rome

The Forum, Rome, as it is today.

The following description taken from the book Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz, helps us to perceive Rome as it may have been:

There appeared Ethiopians, gigantic light-haired people from the distant north, Britons, Gauls, Germans, sloping-eyed dwellers of Lericum; Syrians from the banks of the Orontes, with black and mild eyes; dwellers in the deserts of Arabia, dried as bone; Jews, with their flat breasts; Egyptians, with eternal, indifferent smile on their faces; Numidians and Africans; Greeks from Hellas, who equally with the Romans commanded the city, but commanded through, art, wisdom, and deceit; Greeks from the islands, from Asia Minor, from Egypt, from Italy, from Narbonic Gaul. In the throng of slaves, with pierced ears, were not lacking also freemen, -an idle population, which Caesar amused, supported, even clothed,-and free visitors, whom the ease of life and the prospects of fortune enticed to the gigantic city; there was no lack of venal persons. There were priests of Serapis, with palm branches in their hands; priests of Isis, to whose altar more offerings were brought than to the temple of Capitoline Jove; priests of Cybele, bearing in their hands golden ears of rice; and priests of nomad divinities; and dancers of the east with bright head-dresses, and dealers in amulets, and snake tamers, and Chaldean seers; and, finally, people without any occupation whatever, who applied for grain every week at the storehouses on the Tiber, who fought for lottery-tickets to Circus, who spent their nights in rickety houses of districts beyond the Tiber, and sunny warm days under covered poticos, and in foul eating houses of the Subura, on the Milvan bridge, or before the “insulae” of the great, where from time to time remnants from the tables of slaves were thrown out to them.

Clearly multiculturalism is not a modern invention. Ancient Rome must have been a wonder to behold with its diversity of cultures, its magnificent buildings, impressive statues and beautiful wall paintings.

Find out more about life in Ancient Rome by booking a Roman Workshop Day for your school.

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Roman History Workshop Day

Romans

Modern replica of lorica segmentata type armor...
Roman History Day is the perfect way to inspire the children in your school to learn more about the ancient Romans, The Roman Army and what it was like to live in Roman Times.

This exciting school workshop experience brings history to life enabling children to learn from listening to interesting facts, looking at fascinating visual displays, examining a range of unusual artifacts, taking part in teacher lead discussions and participating in a range of practical activities.

In addition to finding out about the daily life of a Roman citizen the children get to meet a Roman soldier, to see his armour, weapons and equipment and practice Roman Army battle tactics.

Roman History Day covers the following aspects of Roman culture and civilization:

  • Food and Dining
  • Family
  • Education
  • Housing
  • Politics and Law
  • Goverment
  • Entertainment, Sports and Amusements
  • Slavery
  • Religion
  • The Roman Army
  • Architecture and Engineering

Roman History Day explains how Rome began, the expansion of the Roman Empire and the Roman Conquest of Britain. The importance of the Roman Army including:

  • Weapons and Equipment
  • Tactics
  • Roman Forts
  • Roman Roads
  • Hadrian’s Wall

Roman History Day is factual and fun. It is a great WOW day for Primary Schools and can be booked for KS1 or KS2.
The content and style of presentation is age appropriate and allowance is made for different levels of ability.

CALL NOW for your FREE quotation.

Check price and availability now!

 

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Roman Currency

Roman Coins

Roman currency consisted of copper, bronze, silver and gold coins.

Hoard of Roman coins (599 silver denarii that ...

Hoard of Roman coins (599 silver denarii that were hidden in a locally made cooking pot) discovered at Llanvaches, Monmouthshire in 2006; now held at the Caerleon Museum. From the date of the latest coin the hoard was probably buried around A.D. 160. These coins were found in June 2006 at Llanvaches, near Caerwent. Many retired soldiers of the Second Augustan Legion settled in the nearby town of Venta Silurum, which is now Caerwent. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The coins were as follows, starting with the least valuable:

As

The As was a copper coin. Plural, asses.

 Sestertium

The sestertium, a bronze coin worth 4 assess. Plural, sestertii.

 Denarius

The denarius, a silver coin worth 4 sestertii or 16 asses. Plural, denarii.

 Aureus

The aureus, a gold coin worth 25 denarii or 100 sestertii. Plural, aureii.

 

This is a general guide as other coins were produced in different parts of the Roman Empire at different periods.

The actual value of the coins changed and inflation was a serious problem. Bartering was also used for trading purposes.

 

Roman History Day is factual and fun. It is a great WOW day for Primary Schools and can be booked for KS1 or KS2.
The content and style of presentation is age appropriate and allowance is made for different levels of ability.

CALL NOW for your FREE quotation.

Check price and availability now!

 

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The Roman Kings

The Seven Kings of Ancient Rome

The Capitoline she-wolf with the boys Romulus ...

Before the Roman Republic was formed Rome was a monarchy.
There were seven kings. They were as follows:

Romulus, 753 – 714 B.C.

Numa Pompilius, 714 – 671

Tullus Hostilius, 671 – 642

Ancus Martius, 642 – 617

Tarquinius Priscus, 617- 579

Services Tullius, 579 – 535

Tarquinius Superbus, 535 – 509

Thereafter Rome became a Republic and was ruled by elected officials. At the head of the government were two annually elected consuls.

When the Republic finally fell Rome became an Empire and was ruled by one man, the Emperor.

The first Roman Emperor was Augustus who reigned from 27 B.C. until 14 A. D.

Roman History Day is factual and fun. It is a great WOW day for Primary Schools and can be booked for KS1 or KS2.
The content and style of presentation is age appropriate and allowance is made for different levels of ability.

CALL NOW for your FREE quotation.

Check price and availability now!

 

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