In the second part of their adventure across Roman London, Ian Smith takes Nicole Favish to the centre of the city to Cornhill. Taking a trip to the basilica forum and St Stephen Walbrook, Ian explains how the Londinium forum was akin to the city centre such as modern day's Oxford Street and Leicester Square. They attempt to visit the Temple of Mithras but it is currently in the process of being moved. Ian discusses the importance of the River Walbrook to the development of Londinium in ancient times, before the pair go to the London Guildhall, and see the original site of the Roman Amphitheatre. Discussing the blood and gore that would go on as gladiators would battle wild animals, as well as theatre and circus that would serve as the city's entertainment.
Submitted by Bija Knowles on Tue, 02/23/2010 - 16:15
Roman London is mostly intangible, hidden and largely forgotten. Today it's buried under tons of concrete and glass in the shape of the City of London – London's financial district – with its busy streets, packed offices and underground networks. It's not surprising that getting a peak at the remains of the Roman city founded soon after 43 AD is not easy, but archaeologists have excavated several large areas, often when construction projects and post-war reconstruction have provided opportunities to open up the ground. However, areas remain that have yet to be studied by a professional archaeologist, so what Roman structures could still be lurking under London, waiting for their chance to see the light of day again?
Submitted by Cath Parnell on Tue, 02/16/2010 - 13:28
The history of Athens and its many monuments is endlessly exciting for visitors and you don't need to be in the city itself to get a taste of its glorious past. Wander around London, admire a few buildings, have a short visit to the British Museum and then finish your day with a trip to the cinema and you will feel like you've been to transported to ancient Greece. So here are 10 points of call for experiencing your very own "Athens day" in London.
Located on the coast of north-west Libya, Sabratha was incorporated into the Roman Empire during the second and third century AD as a trading post, when it flourished as an outlet for wares being exported from Africa. The city, nearby to Leptis Magna, was most notable for a fantastic Roman theatre which was built during 175-200AD as part of the reconstruction of the city under Emperor Septimius Severus's rule.
Simon Keay is Professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of Southampton and Research Professor at the British School at Rome.
He has worked at Portus, the ancient port of Rome for the past ten years. For the last three years he has directed the Portus Project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), investigating and excavating the site of the original port of Rome, close to the present day international airport at Fiamicino. This project is co-directed by Dr Graeme Earl of the University of Southampton and Professor Martin Millett of the University of Cambridge with the Soprintendenza di Beni Archeologici di Ostia Antica.
Simon’s research centres around the archaeology of the Roman Empire, with particular emphasis on trade, urbanism and culture change in the western Mediterranean.
Among his other projects, Simon has undertaken fieldwork in Spain at Tarragona, Peñaflor and Italica, including the AHRC-funded project Urban Connectivity in Iron-Age and Roman Southern Spain. He was also co-director of the AHRC-funded Roman towns in the Tiber Valley Project, the publication of which is nearly complete, and Director of the AHRC-funded project Roman Amphorae: A Digital Resource.
He speaks fluent Italian, Spanish and French and has a good knowledge of Catalan, Portuguese and German.
Submitted by Bija Knowles on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 12:02
Several major archaeological discoveries have been made at the site of one of Rome's ancient harbours. An oval amphitheatre, a 90m canal as well as many smaller objects (including marble statues) have emerged during excavations of Portus, the cargo port of ancient Rome, about two miles north of its better-known counterpart, Ostia Antica.
Chester – known as Dewa or Deva to the Romans – was inhabited before the empire's invasion of Britannia, but it is thought the first Roman military camp established there was during the campaign of Publius Ostorius Scapula in around 47-48 AD. A more substantial camp was set up by the Legio II Adiutrix Pia Fidelis during the Flavian period in 79 AD. It was during this time that Chester is believed to have had its first amphitheatre, which was then rebuilt in 275 AD. The second amphitheatre consisted of a stone wall 12m high and 98m by 87m. It could hold more than 8,000 people. Various structures were built around the amphitheatre to support it – including a dungeon, stables and food shops – as well as a shrine to the goddess of retribution (Nemesis). Historians have speculated that the Romans may have intended to develop Chester into the capital city of Roman Britain and that the large amphitheatre complex was a part of this building project.
The amphitheatre fell into disuse when the Romans left Britain in the fifth century AD and most of it was dismantled for reuse in the town. Since then several buildings have been built on or around the site. The amphitheatre itself was rediscovered during 1929.
Submitted by Bija Knowles on Tue, 09/22/2009 - 08:53
Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered an amphitheatre in Tiberias, overlooking the sea of Galilee. It has taken 19 years of research and excavation work to enable the site to be made public by the team of experts, led by the late Professor Izhar Hirshfeld from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Yossi Stefanski.
A recent article here on Heritage Key by Bija Knowles looked at Roman sites across the South East of France. There are many sites across the area which remain today as relics to the Roman past, the empire having controlled the area as early as 125BC.
The map shows the triangle area between the towns of Nimes, Arles and Orange where many of the heritage sites reside, but also includes Lyon which also has many notable Roman settlement relics.
Using this interactive map, you can see the exact locations of these sites, and easily plan your (real or fantasy) trip through Roman France.
A recent article here on Heritage Key by Bija Knowles looked at 
