Tweet

More from @OptimoPrincipi

Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

6 Jun

1) A Roman centurion and a Roman auxiliary cavalryman who both lived at a remarkable intersection in history; taking part in the Roman invasion of Britannia in 43 AD, they fought and died in the conquest of a wild and mysterious land at the edge of their world..

2) Marcus Favonius Facilis was a centurion (commanding a unit of around 80 men) in the Twentieth Legion, who came to Britain as part of Claudius’ initial invasion force. He died a few years after the invasion while still in service, but we are not told his age or cause or death..

3) In a wonderfully preserved depiction, Marcus is shown in his centurion's uniform, wearing a cuirass and ornate belt over the leather 'pteruges' kilt worn by officers. In his right hand he holds his centurion’s stick (vitis), and in his left he holds the pommel of his gladius..

Read 11 tweets

Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

4 Jun

1) The delightful Colchester Roman Circus mosaic, a modern mosaic designed by archaeological artist Peter Froste, taking inspiration from a famous chariot racing mosaic in Lyon. The mosaic shows the excitement of a race at Colchester's ancient circus which was discovered in 2005.

2) Chariot racing was extremely dangerous and the life expectancy of a charioteer was short. Here one of the racers crashes out with a broken wheel - such crashes were called 'naufragia' (shipwrecks) by the fanatical crowds, crying out "naufragium!" at the sight of an accident.

3) On the central barrier (spina) of the circus we can see the seven laps of the race being counted with large sculpted eggs; circus spinae were ornamented with water features, columns and sculptures, here Cybele, the Great Mother of the gods, is mounted on a lion.

Read 8 tweets

Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

3 Jun

1) The Colchester Mercury - probably the finest ancient bronze statue to have survived from Roman Britain. The statue was unearthed by a ploughman in December 1947, near a known Roman temple just southwest of Colchester (Roman Camulodunum)

2) The discovery of the remarkable statue suggests the Roman temple, which now lies in Gosbecks Archaeological Park, may have been dedicated to Mercury - god of travellers and merchants. The temple stood beside the road from Camulodunum to Londinium..

3) ..supporting a dedication to Mercury; both towns were hugely important in the administration of Britannia and trade with the wider empire. Here Romans would have made offerings of thanks or requests for safe travel as they departed or arrived at the ancient city.

Read 5 tweets

Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

29 May

1) A pilgrimage to Flatford Mill in Suffolk, where John Constable (1776-1837) painted some of his most famous landscapes. Here some of his paintings with the corresponding view today, first up: “Boat-Building near Flatford Mill” (1815)

2) “Flatford Mill on the River Stour” (1817)

3) “The Lock” (1824)

Read 6 tweets

Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

22 May

1) A tale of 11th century 'archaeology' that comes with a health warning for all lovers of history:

"In the days of Abbot Eadmar, excavators were digging foundations for the abbey church when they came across the remains of a huge palace in the centre of the ancient town...

2) Astonished at its scale, they explored further and discovered a recess resembling a cupboard in a wall, filled with a selection of unknown books and scrolls. They had all been scarcely affected by the passage of time..

3) The writing and the words were too old to be comprehensible but they were beautiful and written clearly with initials and headings in gold. The books had boards of oak, and silk ties, which had kept their original strength and beauty...

Read 6 tweets

Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

15 May

1) Let's take a Roman road trip with Horace and Virgil. In 37 BC the two famous poets accompanied their patron Maecenas (friend and advisor to Octavian) on an eventful journey across Italy. Maecenas was travelling to Athens delivering a message from Octavian to Mark Antony and..

2)..his poet friends would go with him as far as Brundisium (modern Brindisi). Instead of focusing on the weight of the diplomatic mission, Horace's description of the 600 km trip is filled with small details and comical anecdotes, a remarkable travelogue of friends on the road..

3) "I set out on my journey and left behind the bustling city of Rome. At the little town of Aricia (16 miles from Rome) I stopped at a small inn. My travelling companion was Heliodorus the rhetor, most learned of the Greeks. From Aricia we went to Forum Appii (27 miles)..

Read 20 tweets

Share this page!

Gareth Harney

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

More from @OptimoPrincipi

Gareth Harney

Gareth Harney

Gareth Harney

Gareth Harney

Gareth Harney

Gareth Harney

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Like this author's thread?