Even when the incredible architecture of the past has decayed centuries ago, they still have a fire in them that shines like a candle flame that is weakened by the wind but never blows out! Roman ruins in Britain are a perfect example of it.
Rome is a ancient Greek city. There are various roman architectures that we see and think about the stories of their origin but we very well know every wall screams its stories and wants the world to know how incredibly the Romans lived their legacy.
The Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the period after the republicans of the ancient Roman city.
Roman Empire stretched along large territories including North Africa, Western Asia and the Mediterranean Coast in Europe. Their language is believed to be Latin and the Roman Emperors spread their native language all across their territory.
The Roman City was one of the most massive and extensive empires in the ancient world. An area of about 5 million square kilometers constituted almost 20% of the world’s population in AD 117.
The Roman empire was first ruled by Emperor Augustus (also remembered as Octavian) after the assignation of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE. He was born on 23 September 63 BC and his reign began on 23 bc. He ruled until he died in AD 14.
The Roman empire was first ruled by Emperor Augustus (also remembered as Octavian) after the assignation of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE. He was born on 23 September 63 BC and his reign began on 23 bc. He ruled until he died in AD 14.
Rome is also known as the eternal city of Italy. The people in ancient Rome are believed to be great architecture and so they were. the basic idea and concrete were developed in the ancient Roman city. Besides architecture, the Romans brought many fascinating ideas and discoveries into the world such as an adequate water system, tunnels, roman roads, libraries, a mail system and whatnot!
The Romans built various administration centers, housing, and palaces during their reign. some of those architectures sunk beneath the land while others stayed tough even in my darkest and stormiest nights which now we call roman ruins.
The Romans not only showcased their architecture in Rome but travelled across the world conquering the cities and ruling them, marking their presence with the buildings they constructed in their name. These ruins are widespread across The Eternal City, Rome, Greece, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Great Britain and others, one better and more fascinating than the other.
Everyday life in ancient Rome was dependent on one’s economic and birth status. The ancient Rome had all types of people: rich, poor, merchants, kings, queens, weavers.
Journey of the Romans to Britain
The journey of romans began towards Britain in 1st century. The Romans arrived in Britain in 55 BC and then it was also called Roman Britain. The Roman Empire took over Britain in 43 century AD under the rule of the Emperor Claudius.
Claudius was the one emperor of the 1st century who crossed oceans. He took over the Southern half of Britain by 87 century AD when the Stonegate (a road built by Romans in northern England) was established. The hunger to conquer more took the roman army further north and Scotland which consumed years and gave fluctuating victories.
They also used their newly constructed fleet to gain control over the English channel. The Romanian Army of 40,000 men was ordered by general Aulus Plautius.
The Roman occupation of Britain lasted for almost 500 years and in that long period, the roman built various buildings and roman villas on the lands of Britain conquered by them. They also built towns and cities in every inch they conquered.
About Roman Forum/Ruins
Roman remains have been widespread not only n Rome but also in other ancient sites like Portugal, England, Britain. These Roman ruins have been well preserved by the governments they lie in. Over the millennium roman architecture has collapsed, damaged, wearied off and then recycled into the new modern city, we now call Rome. The ancient city of Rome is built upon its ruins. One of most ancient roman ruins of the city is Palatine hill.
The fascinating facts about these ancient ruins are:
- they were built upon a very good water and sewage system.
- various forums are the desecrating places of great emperors.
- these ruins depict the legacy of the earliest kings of Rome.
- these ruins are mostly constructed of large and strong stone blocks.
The period of the roman republic, where the roman architecture is traced back to Etruscans in the 12th century BCE. The Etruscans looked closely into the Greek and Phoenician traditions and then constructed the temples to worship all the gods.
The second period of roman architecture began around 27 BC. The Romans built approximately 51,000 miles of highway and walls across their territory which have weathered off up to some extent but are still intact in the memory of the great kings who constructed them and are considered ruins too.
We can see famous cities and buildings across roman history. The Pantheon, The Colosseum in Rome, Herculaneum are some of the best preserved roman ruins whereas Jerash, or Gerasa are one of the best preserved roman cities.
These roman ruins have now become tourist attractions. some of the most famous and impressive roman ruins are The Colosseum in Rome; Hadrian’s Wall in Northern England; Maison Carrée in Nimes, France. The famous roman ruins are a legacy of ancient Rome.
Roman Ruins in Britain
While the Romans were in Britain they build various impressive roan ruins. these roman ruins are widespread across Britain too. The Romans built their roman villa where the elite lived and build towns and cities for the common people in their reign.
The Romans invades Britain in 47 century AD. When the Romans came to Britain they already had years of experience and talent for constructing large and impressive sites for the kings and queens. The Romans made a simple structured building in a work of art which is why roman architecture is believed to be very attractive and sight snatching.
The builders used strong and large stones as the building material which not only made the building strong but so strong that they have stayed for a millennium. Some of the best roman ruins in Britain are:
1. Housesteads Roman Fort
It is one of 16 permanent bases along wall. The fort was built with stones. it was built around AD 124. Its name has been given various names as Vercovicium, Borcovicus, Borcovicium and Velurtion.
National Trust owns this site and it is taken cared of by the English Heritage. Housesteads is a former farm whose lands constitute the ruins of the fort. the south of the wall was The Vallum. It is the best example of a Roman fort in Britain and the best place to see various original features of a Roman fort.
2. Hadrian’s Wall
Hadrian’s wall is known by various names such as the Roman wall, Picts’ wall, and Vallum Hadriani. The Wall is 1480 meters long, it covered the whole width of the island. Soldiers used to guard this wall in large forts and smaller milecastles.
The location of the wall is now in Northern England. It runs from Wallsend in the east on the River Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway in the west. It was the long strong wall of stones which had ditched in front and behind the wall. It was considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
The wall was abandoned after the death of Hadrian in 138 AD and brought a new king to power. Under the rule of Antonius Pius, Hadrian’s wall was abandoned and moved the frontier up to the Forth-Clyde isthmus, where is built a new wall known as the This Time of Turf or The Antonine Wall.
3. The Roman Baths
The Roman Baths are well-preserved elite baths in the city of bath, Somerset in England. In 60-70 AD, a temple was built on the site in the first few decades of Roman Britain. This bath was constructed for public use. The bath was used until the end of Roman Rule in Britain in the 5th century AD. The original Baths dropped into ruin a century later and were reconstructed and redeveloped over and over again during the early and late middle ages.
The Roman Baths are very well preserved roman ruins. They are preserved in main 4 features i.e.
A. The Sacred Spring
B. The Roman Temple
C. The Roman Bath House
D. A Museum, it holds the artefacts from Aquae Sulis.
The Bath was charged with the responsibility for the warm water in a Royal Charter of 1591 stated by Elizabeth I. Due to some mishappenings in the Bath, it is now not used for bathing. The Bath has now become a tourist attraction, almost 1.3 million people visit it every year.
4. Caerleon
It is a town in Newport in Wales. It is geographically on the River Usk. It lies 8 km away from the north-east of Newport city center to the northeast and 9 km south-east of Cambrian. Caerleon is an archaeological site with important significance as it is the location of a Roman legionary fortress. On the hill was a site of Iron Age Hillfort. The Romans called this site Esca derived from the River Usk. In modern times, it is centered on a town named Gold croft common.
5. Arbeia
Arbeia literally means ‘fort of the Arab troops’. It has now become one of the Roman Ruins. It has literally come to ruin and has been partially reconstructed. It was brought into sight in the 1870s for the first time. The fort is on the Lawe top, looking at the mouth of River Tyne. The roman fort once guarded the main sea route to Hadrian’s wall.
In 186, the west gate of the fort was reconstructed not as near as the original but gave a impression of the place. Through the history of Arbeia, the fort has had several wars, from a busy cosmopolitan port to being the HQ for Scottish invasion of Emperor Septimius Severus. This forts is one of the most impressive ruins with a very incredible historic architecture.
6. Crofton Roman Villa
It is a roman villa which was captured between 140 and 400 AD. It is located in Orrington grid. It was the center of a farming estate of nearly 500 acres. It used to be surrounded by farms, farm buildings, meadows and woods. the house was reconstructed several time during its 260 years.
The villa had at leave 20 rooms but with time the villa has become a impressive ancient ruin with the remains of 10 rooms. Details of an underfloor central heating has also been discovered in both channeled and pillared system.
This site was discovered in 1926 but the site was not fully investigated until 1988. Details of its discovery were published in a book in 1996 where the site is not protected inside a modern structure. The villa is next to Orrington Railway Station and is half an hour away from Lulling stone Roman Villa.
7. The London Mithraeum
The temple of the mystery god Mithras became the most famous frieze of 20th century in London. The temple was primarily hoped to be a Christian Church, which was built in the middle ages.
The Roman ruins are reconstructed as they formally appeared at the end of the excavation in October 1954. In 2010-2012, Museum of London Archaeology led a team to further excavate the site. That excavation recovered more that 14,000 items which includes leather shoes, tools, writing tablets over 400, sculptures. The artefacts recovered by the archeologists were humbly represented and displayed in the Museum of London. It is a very impressive sight of roman forum.
8. Alborough Roman Town
Alborough roman town or Isurium or Isurium of the Brigantes was a Roman fort in the administration regions of Britannia. Its remains are not in the hands of English Heritage.
The ultramodern vill retains part of the Roman road plan and the church stands on the point of the forum. The Roman civitas was the executive center of the Brigantes lineage, the largest and most northerly lineage in Roman Britain. Roman municipalities similar as Exeter, Leicester, Chichester and Canterbury had the same status as Isurium.
9. Bird Oswald Roman Fort
Bird Oswald Roman Fort lies towards the western end of Hadrian’s Wall and is one of the stylish saved of the 16 castles along the wall. Cumbria County Council were responsible for the operation of Bird Oswald stronghold from 1984 until the end of 2004, when English Heritage assumed responsibility.
This western part of Hadrian’s Wall was firstly erected using turf starting from 122 announcement. The stronghold was enthralled by Cahors I Aelia Dacorum and by other Roman auxiliaries from roughly announcement 126 to announcement 400.
10. Bignor Roman Villa
Bignor Roman Villa is a large Roman yard manor which has been shoveled and put on public display on the Bignor estate in the English county of West Sussex. It’s well known for its high quality mosaic bottoms, which are some of the most complete and intricate in the country.
The actuality of a Romano- British farm on the point by the end of the 1st century is indicated by discoveries, but the foremost structural remains are of a simple timber ranch structure courting to around 190 announcement. A four- billeted gravestone structure was erected in the middle of the 3rd century announcement, and this was extended between 240 and 290 CE announcement by the addition of a many new apartments, a hypocaust, and a veranda that faced east towards Stene Street.
This structure came the western sect when north and south bodies were added at the turn of the fourth century. In its final form, the manor comported of some sixty- five apartments girding a yard, with a number of devious ranch structures. The rearmost phase of structure involved additions to the north sect between 300 and 350 CE announcement, and it’s then that utmost of the fine mosaics are located.
Conclusion
History teaches us a lot of things, taken from above we are developed from these historic events and each of them are important for the world to come up to a level. Learning about history not only makes us knowledgeable but also gives an idea about ancestors. Somewhere this roman invasion in Britain has brought a very good impact on today’s architecture.