Thread by @MikeStuchbery_

I've been lucky enough to travel across much of what was the Roman Empire.

I've seen a lot of impressive Roman constructions and art.

However, it never really twigged just how utterly capable they were until I visited Vindobona, aka, modern Vienna. THREAD 1/

You've probably seen Roman Vindobona depicted on film, albeit the woods outside the settlement.

They were shown in 'Gladiator’, at the beginning, when the legions slaughter the Germanic tribes in battle. /2

Vindobona was at the very edge of the Roman Empire, and rose in the century prior to the birth of Christ.

It lay within the province of Pannonia, as a border settlement overlooking the Danube.

It was a military camp & a settlement housing over 20,000 souls at its height. /3

Vindobona covered much of Vienna's first district. Walking around, you really get a sense of how big it was, with the occasional monument to show where the baths lay, etc.

This wasn't a makeshift camp - this was a large, imposing community that local tribes couldn't ignore. /4

The remains of Roman Vindobona have been exposed at Michaelerplatz and at the Römermuseum Wien.

At the museum, you can see the remains of officer's quarters, complete with heated floors - a hypocaust. Luxury!

These were built to last, comfortable, resilient dwellings. /5

Vienna's main shopping strip, the Graben, is also a nod to the Roman settlement.

'Graben' means 'ditch’, and this was the defensive ditch protecting the city.

If you've walked down it, you'll know this was no short strip of fortification - it was a major deterrent! /6

While the Danube was close, water was supplied by a 15km long aqueduct from the hills.

A constant supply was ensured by ingenious engineering. Just watch the video - it's mostly in German, but you'll get it.

Amazing. Simply incredible constructions. /7

Graveyards, located along the roads leading to Vindobona (as was Roman custom), show generations of soldiers and civilians lived and died at Vindabona during the 300-odd years it was settled.

This was not just an army camp - it was a local centre of administration & trade. /8

Perhaps the most famous Roman to die at Vindobona was the Roman Emperor & philosopher Marcus Aurelius - he died of an illness at Vindabona in 180CE, while his legions gave rebel tribes a kicking.

No, his son didn't smother him. /9

Hundreds of years later, the ruins of Vindobona provided the ideal location for a new, Christian, medieval community.

Some of the Roman ruins were used in construction - you can find a Roman stones throughout the Stephansdom! /10

If you would like to learn more about Vindobona, check out the Livius page on what we know about the community. /11 livius.org/articles/place…

If you would like to see Vindobona up close, you can at the Römermuseum Wien. I highly recommend it. wienmuseum.at/en/locations/r…

Hope you enjoyed that. I'll be digging deeper into the history of Vienna in weeks to come - having scratched the surface of the place, there is much, much more to uncover… /FIN