Even when incredible historical architectures of the past 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! The Roman ruins in Britain are a perfect example of it.
Rome is an ancient Greek city. There are various Roman architectures that we see and think about, as well as the stories of their origin. Every wall has its story, and the world wants to know how incredibly the Romans lived.
1. The Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the period after the republicans of the ancient Roman city. The 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 Empire was one of the most massive and extensive empires in the ancient world. The area 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 a period of civil war following the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE. He was born on 23 September 63 BC, and his reign began on 27 BC. He ruled until he died in AD 14. Basic ideas and concrete were developed in ancient Roman cities. Besides architecture, the Romans brought many fascinating ideas and discoveries, such as an adequate water system, tunnels, Roman roads, libraries, a mail system, and more!
The Romans built various administration centers, housing, and palaces during their reign. Some architectures sunk beneath the land while others stayed tough even in my darkest and stormiest nights, now called Roman ruins.
The Romans showcased their architecture in Rome and 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.
Everyday life in ancient Rome depended on one’s economy and birth status. Ancient Rome had everyone: wealthy, poor, merchants, kings, queens, weavers.
2. Journey of the Romans to Britain
The journey of the Romans began towards Britain in the 1st century. The Romans first made expeditions to Britain in 55 BC, but the period known as Roman Britain began in AD 43 under Emperor Claudius. Claudius crossed the English Channel. The Roman Empire took over Britain by AD 87, under the rule of the emperor Claudius.
Claudius was the emperor of the 1st century who crossed oceans. He took over the Southern half of Britain by 87 century AD when Stanegate (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. General Aulus Plautius ordered the Roman army of 40,000 men. The Roman occupation of Britain lasted for almost 500 years, and in that long period, the Romans 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.
3. Roman Ruins: Background
Roman remains are widespread in Rome and can also be found in other parts of the former Roman Empire, including Portugal and Britain. One of the most ancient Roman ruins in Rome is Palatine Hill.
Roman engineering achievements included advanced water and sewage systems, although their condition varied across different sites. Roman forums were central public spaces in Roman cities, often surrounded by important government buildings, temples, and venues of social activity.
The period of the Roman Republic began in the late 6th century BCE after the overthrow of the Etruscan kings. The Etruscans were influential in early Roman architecture, drawing from Greek and Phoenician traditions. The second period of Roman architecture aligns with the start of the Roman Empire under Augustus in 27 BC.
The Romans built approximately 50,000 miles (80,000 km) of hard-surfaced highways across their territory. Some parts of these roads are still in use today, and they were constructed by the Roman state, not by kings. The Pantheon, the Colosseum in Rome, and Herculaneum are some of the best-preserved Roman ruins. Jerash (ancient Gerasa) is one of the best-preserved Roman cities.
4. The Roman Ruins in Britain
While the Romans were in Britain, they built various impressive Roman ruins. These Roman ruins are widespread across Britain, too. The Romans built their Roman villa where the elite lived and built towns and cities for the ordinary people in their reign.
The Romans invaded Britain in AD 43-47. 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, so Roman architecture is believed to be very attractive and sight-snatching.
The builders used strong and large stones as the building material, making the building strong and so strong that they have stayed for a millennium. Some of the best Roman ruins in Britain are:
4.1. Housesteads Roman Fort
Housesteads Roman Fort was built with stones. It was built around AD 124. It has been given various names, such as Vercovicium, Borcovicus, Borcovicium, and Velurtion.
National Trust owns this site, which the English Heritage takes care of. 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.
4.2. 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 covers the whole width of the island. Soldiers used to guard this wall in prominent forts and miniature mile castles.
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. The extended, well-built wall of stones 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 a new king was brought to power. Under the rule of Antonius Pius, Hadrian’s wall was abandoned, and the frontier up to the Forth-Clyde isthmus, where a new wall known as the This Time of Turf or The Antonine Wall was built.
4.3. 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 repeatedly during the early and late Middle Ages.
The Roman Baths are exceptionally well-preserved Roman ruins. They are preserved in the four main areas, i.e.,
- The Sacred Spring
- The Roman Temple
- The Roman Bath House
- A Museum holds the artifacts from Aquae Sulis.
4.4. Caerleon
It is a town in Newport, 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 the site of Iron Age Hillfort. The Romans called this site Esca, derived from the river Usk. In modern times, it is centred on a town named Gold Croft Common.
4.5. Arbeia
Arbeia means ‘fort of the Arab troops.’ It has now become one of the Roman Ruins. It has 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 fort’s west gate was reconstructed not as near as the original but gave an impression of the place. Throughout the history of Arbeia, the defence has had several wars, from a busy cosmopolitan port to being the HQ for the Scottish invasion of Emperor Septimius Severus. This fort is one of the most impressive ruins with incredible historic architecture.
4.6. Crofton Roman Villa
It is a Roman villa that was captured between 140 and 400 AD. It is located in the Orrington grid. It was the center of a farming estate of nearly 500 acres. It used to be surrounded by farms, buildings, meadows and woods. The house was reconstructed several times during its 260 years.
The villa had at least 20 rooms, but with time, the estate has become an impressive ancient ruin with the remains of 10 rooms. Details of underfloor central heating have also been discovered in channelled and pillared systems.
This site was discovered in 1926 but was not thoroughly 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 from Lulling Stone Roman Villa.
4.7. The London Mithraeum
The temple of the mystery god Mithras became the most famous frieze of the 20th century in London. The temple was primarily built in the Middle Ages and was hoped to be a Christian Church.
The Roman ruins are reconstructed as they formally appeared at the end of the excavation in October 1954. In 2010-2012, the Museum of London Archaeology led a team to excavate the site further. That excavation recovered over 14,000 items, including leather shoes, tools, writing tablets, and over 400 sculptures.
The artifacts recovered by the archeologists were humbly represented and displayed in the Museum of London. It is an awe-inspiring sight of the Roman Forum.
4.8. 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 to Exeter, Leicester, Chichester, and Canterbury had the same status as Isurium.
4.9. Birdoswald Roman Fort
Birdoswald Roman Fort lies towards the western end of Hadrian’s Wall and is one of the most stylishly preserved of the 16 castles along the wall. Cumbria County Council was responsible for the operation of the Birdoswald stronghold from 1984 until the end of 2004 when English Heritage assumed responsibility.
This western part of Hadrian’s Wall was first erected using turf starting in 122 announcements. Cahors enthralled the stronghold in Aelia Dacorum and other Roman auxiliaries from roughly announcement 126 to announcement 400.
4.10. Bignor Roman Villa
Bignor Roman Villa is a large Roman yard manor shovelled 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, some of the country’s most complete and intricate.
The actuality of a Romano-British farm on the point by the end of the 1st century is indicated by discoveries. Still, the foremost structural remains are of a simple timber ranch, counting to around 190 announcements.
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 adding many new apartments, a hypocaust, and a veranda facing east towards Stene Street.
This structure came to the western sect when north and south bodies were added at the turn of the fourth century. In its final form, the manor consisted of some sixty- five apartments girding a yard, with several devious ranch structures. The rearmost phase of the structure involved additions to the north sect between 300 and 350 CE announcement, and it’s then that the utmost of the fine mosaics is located.
5. An Incredible Legacy
History teaches us a lot of things. We are the results of these historical events, and each is essential. Learning about history gives us an idea about our ancestors. Somewhere, this Roman invasion of Britain has had an excellent impact on today’s architecture. The famous Roman ruins are a legacy of ancient Rome.
Last Updated on July 11, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty
