Oct 01
Altar from Micklegate, York. “To the African, Italian and Gallic Mother Goddesses Marcus Minucius Audens, soldier of the 6th Legion Victrix and a pilot of the 6th Legion, willingly, gladly and deservedly fulfilled his vow”. Audens will have been responsible for guiding vessels up the Ouse to York.
Sep 30
Stanwick Iron Age Hill Fort This note describes a partial perimeter walk of the largest hill fort in England. This walk covers some six miles and takes in the major extend of the fort and covers the two stages in it’s development. Location:: O/S 1:50,000 map 92 ref, 178123 Stanwick is very close to the …
Sep 24
To the Romans, the Celts presented a terrifying sight because of their tall stature and their strange appearance.
Sep 24
To look upon the tribes of Britain as just a bunch of savages is totally erroneous. Each tribe had thriving industries based on manufactured goods. Whether these goods were made in the homes of individual families, or in group workshops. The products of Celtic craftspeople were just as stunning as any Roman artefact.
Sep 23
Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Kings of Britain includes a number of unknown potential kings, as well as some recognised as existing, including King Lear from Shakespeare.
Sep 23
Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus was born Lugunum in 10 BC, the youngest son of Nero Drusus, brother of Tiberius. He was a strange child and prone to constant illness, not only of the body, but also the mind.
Sep 23
Suetonius wrote of him:
He was very handsome and most graceful at all stages of his life, although he cared nothing for any sort of refinery. He was so uninterested in how his hair was dressed that he would set several barbers to work at once in a hurry, and he would have his beard clipped at one time and shaved at another, and while the barbers were working he would read or even write something.
Sep 23
Born in the year 9 at Reate, north of Rome, Vespasian was the son of a tax collector, Flavius Sabinus and his wife, Vespasia Polla. He joined the military and achieved the rank of legionary commander, serving under Claudius during the invasion of Britain in 43AD.
Sep 23
Ask anyone to name a famous Roman character, and the name of Julius Caesar is sure to be the most popular answer. Although he failed twice to conquer Britain, he still became an icon of Rome. So how did this man manage to become a legend?
Sep 23
Quintus Petillius Cerialis Caesius Rufus was the son-in-law of Vespasian Cerialis and became Governor of Britain in AD.71; his instructions were plainly to move the conquest forward, and he brought with him a new legion, II Adiutrix, which had recently been recruited from members of the fleet at Ravenna.
