31 May 2008
The Romans Got There As Well
And what they built must have been as impressive as the castles, about 2000 years ago. The problem is that for one, more time has passed since they left what they called Britannia in 410 AD, then their finely chiselled stones were often reused (some even in the castles) and today some of their remains are found under houses that can't just be torn down to excavate more Roman foundations.
Hypocaust heating of the fort bath, found in a cellar in Chester
But enough remains to get a feeling for the former splendour. Like the baths in Caerleon which would put some modern leisure centres to shame.
Main bassin in the Caerleon baths, 42 metres in length
Or the arena in Caerleon, which albeit overgrown with grass still displays the wide diameter of the original structure, though not its height.
Roman arena in Caerleon
Caerleon was a legionary fort, not an auxiliary fortress like the ones at the Hadrian's Wall and the German limes, and thus everything comes a bit larger. After all, a legion consisted of abut 5,000 men - not counting the slaves - and even if some of them were dispatched elsewhere most of the time, Caerleon was constructed to house the whole lot.
Barrack row at Caerleon fort
The Romans not only built two legionary forts at Caerleon and Chester (Deva) and littered Wales with auxuliary fortresses (one - Segontium - can be found in Caernarfon), they also built a town at Caerwent.
Flowers on the Roman east wall of Caerwent
What the Roman places had in common with the Norman castles were big walls. Makes you wonder why. *grin* ¶ May 31, 2008
And what they built must have been as impressive as the castles, about 2000 years ago. The problem is that for one, more time has passed since they left what they called Britannia in 410 AD, then their finely chiselled stones were often reused (some even in the castles) and today some of their remains are found under houses that can't just be torn down to excavate more Roman foundations.
But enough remains to get a feeling for the former splendour. Like the baths in Caerleon which would put some modern leisure centres to shame.
Or the arena in Caerleon, which albeit overgrown with grass still displays the wide diameter of the original structure, though not its height.
Caerleon was a legionary fort, not an auxiliary fortress like the ones at the Hadrian's Wall and the German limes, and thus everything comes a bit larger. After all, a legion consisted of abut 5,000 men - not counting the slaves - and even if some of them were dispatched elsewhere most of the time, Caerleon was constructed to house the whole lot.
The Romans not only built two legionary forts at Caerleon and Chester (Deva) and littered Wales with auxuliary fortresses (one - Segontium - can be found in Caernarfon), they also built a town at Caerwent.
What the Roman places had in common with the Norman castles were big walls. Makes you wonder why. *grin* ¶ May 31, 2008
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Lol, it's rather that the Silures and Ordovici were as fond of the Romans as Llyelyn ap Iorweth and his successors were of Henry II and Edward Longshanks. :)
Once again, nice pics. I remember now that once - a long, long time ago - I went to Caerleon. Can't remember why though...
Thanks Shelley. Yes, it is very green. Must the all that rain that kept missing me. :)
School trip, Lady D? The Romans are very popular with teachers. ;)
School trip, Lady D? The Romans are very popular with teachers. ;)
*cries with envy*
Seriously, I'm about the same colour as the Caerleon amphitheatre.
Hm... big walls... drive to conquer... I think that one speaks for itself. ;)
Seriously, I'm about the same colour as the Caerleon amphitheatre.
Hm... big walls... drive to conquer... I think that one speaks for itself. ;)
Tsk, tsk, Kirsten, that colour clashes with your T-shirt. :)
Seriously, for anyone living in England no place except maybe the uttermost north of Scotland is so far away. You should go there - Caerwent and Caerleon are pretty close to each other.
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Seriously, for anyone living in England no place except maybe the uttermost north of Scotland is so far away. You should go there - Caerwent and Caerleon are pretty close to each other.
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