Tag: Hadrian

Sagalassos Archaeological Project Digs Up Oldest Roman Baths in Asia Minor

Sagalassos Roman Baths Turkey Anatolia At the ancient city of Sagalassos, Turkey, archaeologists have discovered the oldest Roman baths in Asia Minor known to date.

The new find means the Capito Baths in Miletus, built during the reign of Emperor Claudius (41-54 AD),have to concede theirposition as the oldest known Roman bathing complex in Anatolia.

Oldest Roman Bathsin Asia Minor

The ‘Old Bath’ was discovered at Sagalassos, an ancient city from Hellenistic and Roman times in southwestern Turkey. They were locatedbelow the previously unearthed Imperial Baths, dated to120-165 AD.

The newly discovered bathing complex is much older and smaller than the Imperial Baths which have a surface area of more than 5,000 square metres and is dated to 10-30 AD, though the Old Bath was probably built somewhat earlier, during the reign of Augustus or Tiberius.

The approx. 3 metre high south wall of the heating room of the bathing complex. Warm air was blown under the floor of the middle apsidal space or ‘caldarium’ (hot water pool).

The Old Baths measure 32.5 by 40 metres and are far better preserved than was originally thought. The complex walls must have been at least 12 metres high, of which 8.5 metres remain erect today.

When Hadrian selected Sagalassosas the centre of the Imperial cult for all of Pisidia, to which the city belonged this included the organisation of festivals and games (agones).

These attracted thousands, making a new urban infrastructure necessary. In order to accommodate the Pisidian visitors to the events, the Old Baths were replaced by the larger Imperial Baths.

Roman Style Bathing

The Roman bathing habits consisted of a succession of a warm water pool, a hot water pool and a cold water pool.

Each pool of these pools (a ‘piscina’ or ‘natatio’) was housed in a separate space; a tepidarium, a caldarium and a frigidarium, respectively.

The Sagalassos Archaeological Research Project

The Belgian Sagalassos Archaeological Research Project directed by Professor Marc Waelkens from the University of Leuven this past summer (photographs from the 2010 season) also revealed the faade of an important public building dating from the reign of Emperor Augustus (25 BC – 14 AD). It may have been the town hall of Sagalassos.

The team also concluded that the triumphal arch, until now thought to pay tribute to Caligula, was actually erected in honour of his uncle and successor Claudius (41-54 AD) and Claudius brother Germanicus, Caligulas father.

The reconstructed Antonine Nymphaeum, at Sagalassos' Upper Agora. The water drops down from a height of 4.50 metres, into a 81 cubic metres reservoir.

Anastylosis: Antoine Nymphaeum

At the end of this seasons excavations, an Antonine Nymphaeum was inaugurated at the Upper Agora of the Sagalassos site.

The reconstruction of the fountain was an ‘anastylosis’ project, whereby a structure is restored using the original architectural elements to the greatest degree possible.

The monumentwas constructed around 160AD,using 7 different kinds of stones. The restored fountain contains more than 85% of its original building blocks. Where needed for stability reasons, missing stones were replaced by blocks fashioned using antique technologies; the same way they would have been made 2,000 years ago.

Now, the9 metres high and 28 metres longAntonine Nymphaeum,is againfed by one of its original water canals. It collapsed when earthquakes destroyed Sagalassos in the7th century AD.

AWiL Video Series: Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall at the Edge of the Roman Empire

What’s 84 miles long, 1,888 years old and marked the edge of Roman rule in Britain? Hadrian’s Wall of course – and the landmark got a spectacular makeover this weekend with a line of beacons stretching its entirety. The event, named ‘Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall’, marked the 1,600th anniversary of the end of the Roman occupation in Britain, and needed no fewer than 1,100 hardy volunteers to brave the harsh winds of northern England to make it happen.

We know it’s a far cry from London – about 300 miles, in fact – but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance (make that once-in-about-250-lifetimes) to see one of Britain’s most important ancient landmarks lit up to show its true magnitude. Check out this live blog to see photos and tweets from the event.

As the sun goes down we all hop in a cab, whose driver has predictably never heard of the press area at Steel Rigg. Much confusion and several stops later, we’re up in the Cumbrian hills wishing we’d all worn an extra pair of socks. But there can’t have been a better spot from which to see the illuminations: miles of winding Roman wall snaking off into the distance, beside lakes, cliffs and…cows.

It’s a stunning sight as sun set, and we’re lucky to meet Linda Tuttiett, chief executive of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage, who are planning an eco-revamp of the site. “The Emperor Hadrian realised he needed to contain the borders of the Roman Empire,” she says. Yet the traditional view of the wall keeping out mad Picts and Brigantes, fierce Celtic warriors, may be a little too simple: “It could be that the Romans were protecting the (area’s) valuable mineral deposits…it must have been a critical part of defending the Roman Empire.”

There can’t have been a better spot: miles of winding wall snaking off into the distance, beside lakes, cliffs and…cows.

It was also home to Vindolanda, a huge Roman fortress town and home to the incredible Vindolanda Tablets – ink-written Roman postcards from the frontline that lend fascinating insight into the daily lives of the wall’s Roman residents.

With the sun disappearing over our shoulders, it’s time to put on the lights, and there’s a palpable sense of tension as we see one, then two, then three, four and five beacons lit in the distance. Helicopters whizz past us (catch aerial footage in the video) and camera flashes flood the night sky. Yet there’s a frantic few seconds on our flare as the illuminators fail to get it going straight away. Disaster soon averted, we’re all left to bask in the wall’s enormity.

Kids are running round cheering, people are drinking tea and hot chocolate (lucky) and there’s a general sense of achievement in the air. For while we might never see Hadrian’s Wall at its 2nd century might (except in reconstructions), the illuminations are a great doff of the cap to the Romans and their legacy in Britain and beyond.

We meet Matthias and Kathleen, Roman re-enactors who’ve travelled from Germany and Belgium respectively to witness the occasion – why? “It’s part of our own history,” says Kathleen. “They’re our own ancestors, so a lot of their culture has been taken by us nowadays.” It may be at the edge of England, but Hadrian’s Wall is a part of the entire world’s heritage.

HD Video: Episode 7 – Light Up!Hadrian’s Wall Illuminations

(Transcription of this video.)

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Get Romantic (and Cultured) in Rome This Valentines Day

Venice, with its grumpy gondoliers, and Verona, home to Romeo, Juliet and a pink Roman arena, both have formidable reputations as romantic destinations. But Rome too can more than hold its own when it comes to providing entertainment for lovers of all kinds (whether part of a couple or not).

There are several activities and a two-for-one offer on state-owned museums this coming weekend (13 and 14 February) in honour of Saint Valentine’s Day, but there’s plenty to inspire anyone with a yearning for a bit of romance and culture at any time of the year.

Some of ancient Rome’s most famous lovers Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Hadrian and Antinous spent time in the capital. Few statues and monuments remain to remind us of them, but using your imagination has always been an important part of romance!

And when it comes to breath-taking city scenery, Rome, with its seven hills, has a number of romantic locations for a proposal with a view, or even just a panoramic photo opportunity.

Whatever you’re in Rome for, here are some suggestions on how to make the most of the Valentine’s weekend.

Two-for-one at Rome’s Museums

This two-for-the-price-of-one offer from Italy’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage applies to state-owned museums and sites throughout Italy and is in honour of Saint Valentine’s Day. The offer, which is part of a campaign called ‘A San Valentino, innamorati dell’arte’, is valid on the 13th and 14th of February and is open to couples of all sorts (i.e., so long as there are two of you, just one person pays and the second can get in free). It’s definitely worth pairing-up for.

Among the government-run museums and archaeological sites not to be missed in Rome this weekend are Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Baths of Caracalla and Galleria Borghese. Galleria Borghese houses Titian’s masterpiece, Sacred and Profane Love, and Canova’s Venus Victrix, both pieces with obvious themes of love.

If it’s a love-themed visit you’re after, a visit to the Capitoline Museums is always worthwhile (although they’re not included in the two-for-one offer). The Capitoline Venus, modestly attempting to cover her naked form with a hand, has her own alcove while a nearby hall houses two statues, the Young and the Old Centaur, found at Hadrian’s villa in Tivoli. Hadrian never really got over the premature death of his young lover Antinous, and the two centaurs, said to represent young and old love, are very moving in that context. After Antinous drowned in mysterious circumstances in the Nile at the age of 19, in 130 AD, the aged Hadrian spent the last years of his life at Tivoli.

If you’re in any doubt about how beautiful Antinous may have been, you can see a bust of him at Palazzo Altemps, which is a gem of a museum that also holds the Ludovisi Throne a piece famous for its flowing lines and movement as well as a statue of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.

Ostia Antica The House of Cupid and Psyche

As well as the two-for-one entry to state-owned museums and sites, there are several other free activities planned for the 13th and 14th of February. The House of Cupid (Amore) and Psyche, at Ostia Antica, is a well preserved Roman house, or domus, from the late imperial era. It takes its name from the statue of the a couple Cupid and Psyche in a passionate embrace, found in one of the rooms of the house. This Saturday, 13 February at 11am, a workshop aimed at families will explore the marble floors of the house (in opus sectile) and its history. Booking is necessary by contacting lucia.piastra@beniculturali.it – tel. 06 56358092.

Rome’s Famous Lovers Antony and Cleopatra

The Roman commander Mark Antony and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra are ancient Rome’s most famous lovers. Of course it wasn’t a straight-forward love affair. She was previously the lover of Julius Caesar, while Antony was married, first to Fulvia and then to Octavian’s sister, Octavia. A cynic might wonder how Cleopatra managed to seduce not one but two of Rome’s most powerful men these were surely relationships based on power, lust and politics rather than love?

In his play, Shakespeare depicts them as a pair of utterly smitten lovers though, who let their passion for each other over-ride their political sagacity. Cleopatra spent time in Rome as the mistress of Julius Caesar, but she quickly left after his assassination. Today there is little left in Rome that personally commemorates Cleopatra.

However, her legacy was perhaps the Egyptian influence seen in monuments that are dotted around Rome. There are 13 Egyptian obelisks in the city (some imported from Egypt by the Romans and some made during the empire in Egyptian style). The obelisk at the centre of piazza del Popolo comes from Heliopolis and was erected by Rameses II. It was brought to Rome by Augustus (Octavian) in 30 BC the year that Antony and Cleopatra killed themselves, following their defeat at the Battle of Actium.

Other obelisks are in the middle of Piazza Navona (Domitian’s Obelisk), in front of the government building Palazzo di Montecitorio (this was originally built by Psammetichus II in the 7th century BC). Behind the Pantheon, in piazza di Santa Maria sopra Minerva, there is a small obelisk mounted (by Gian Lorenzo Bernini) on the back of a small elephant.

The Egyptian rooms at the exquisite museum Palazzo Altemps (near piazza Navona) also show off some of the Egyptian statues that found their way to ancient Rome, often as part of the cult of Isis.

Although in reality Cleopatra was probably not a physical beauty, in Shakespeare’s play her charms completely entrance Mark Antony. She probably had more charisma and wit rather than chocolate-box prettiness. Some of her most memorable lines from the play include this passionate memory of the early days of their love affair:
Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
Bliss in our brows bent.
Antony is ready to renounce everything he has for Cleopatra he turns his back on Octavia, on Octavian and on Rome itself:
Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch
Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space.

Photo Opportunities and Seductive Spots

It’s handy to know where romantic lovers like to hang out in Rome. If you’re part of a couple yourself, you might like to take your other half up to one of the hill-top balconies for a night-time view of the city and its many cupolas. On the other hand you might also want to avoid these places like the plague if you’re not in a romantic frame of mind. Either way, it’s good to know.

Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi is one of the most famous panoramic balconies in Rome. It’s on the Janiculum Hill and overlooks the whole city. You might need a taxi to get up there from Campo dei Fiori, or you could try walking up from Trastevere.

Another well known spot is Lo Zodiaco, on viale del Parco Mellini. With stunning views of Rome, there’s also a restaurant and bar, which will no doubt need to be booked ahead this weekend (Tel. 06 35496744).

Other spots to watch the sun go down, and to admire the acrobatic starling formations over Rome in the late afternoons, include the Pincian Hill in Villa Borghese, overlooking piazza del Popolo, although for those who really want a bird’s eye view should attempt a trip to the cupola of Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Another spot for lovers is the unlikely Ponte Milvio site of a bloody battle in 312 AD, which saw Constantine I become the first Christian emperor of Rome, and heralded the start of the Christian epoch. As Constantine’s army pressed down on Rome, Maxentius’s men were pushed back and many of them including Maxentius himself were drowned in the Tiber. These days Ponte Milvio has become a spot for lovers and many of them leave a lasting dedication in the form of a padlock signed with their names.

If Pizza is the Food of Love…

Of course a romantic trip to Rome isn’t complete without as much good food as you can fit in. Nobody should visit Rome without trying pizza, artichokes and tiramisu.

Try the Tiramisu from Bar Pompi, on via Albalonga, off piazza Re di Roma (it’s on the metro line). It’s legendary amongst Romans for one good reason: it’s utterly fantastic. You can eat it in the bar, or have a take-away portion to eat out.
A trip to Rome isn’t complete without a thin-based Roman pizza. For a pizzeria with a bit of Roman cheek and energy, try La Montecarlo, on vicolo Savelli off Corso Vittorio Emanuele. It’s frenetic, fast, but the food is tasty.
February is a good time to try one of the Roman delicacies the artichoke. It’s most commonly served in most restaurants ‘alla romana’, cooked slowly in olive oil with roman mint. Or go to the historic restaurant ‘Da Gigetto’ in the Jewish quarter, right next to the Porticus of Octavia and Marcellus’s Theatre, for artichokes ‘alla giudea’, which is deep-fried and crispy.

BBC’s Seven Ages of Britain explores Ancient London with David Dimbleby

Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby takes BBC viewers on a journey through the history of Britain, in much the same way Heritage Key will give insight into the Ancient World in London from next week. Image courtesy of the BBC. In a joint partnership with the Open University, the BBC broadcast the first of a seven-part series which is looking at the History of Britain through art and artefacts over the past 2,000 years in a TV series called “Seven Ages of Britain“. Shot in high definition, the programme is written and presented by the respected veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby who recounts the ancient-era story of the nation in the first episode. Heritage Key’s new series – Ancient World in London – which starts next week will build on the insights with a look at the age of Roman and Norman conquest, and how they impacted the history of the captial city.

David Dimbleby travels across the country, as well as abroad to Italy, Germany, Turkey, India and America to track down the artefacts which helped shape Britain, yet have now left the Isles. The eminent presenter starts the programme wading through the waters of the Thames, grunting as he pulls out a large object from the riverbed – the bronze head of the Roman Emperor Hadrian!

Commenting on the series, David Dimbleby says: “Seven Ages Of Britain has proved an exhilarating quest. The television camera offers a spectacular view of some of our most precious national treasures. It allows us to see them in ways beyond the reach of the human eye as we tell the story of our country’s history over 2,000 years through the art we have created in good times and bad.” You can meet David Dimbleby at the Victoria and Albert Museum later this month as he promotes his series.

Scouring the lengths of Britain, looking at artefacts stored at the British Museum, to the Roman city of Chichester and examining the exquisite Alfred Jewel at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, and looking at the Roman wall next to the Tower of London.

It’s a fantastic overview of the ancient story of Great Britain, which you can explore in more depth over the next three months as Heritage Key prepares its web-series which will journey through London and the surrounding areas, piecing together the past and how you can learn so much about the ancient past outside the museums. Keep an eye out for The Ancient World in London which will kick off from Monday!

Local Info: Tips For Taking Part in Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall

On March 13, Hadrian’s Wall all of it will be lit by gas beacons, a once-in-a-lifetime event called Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall. From Wallsend in the east, to Bowness on Solway, approximately 500 beaconsspaced every 250 metres will cover the 84 miles of the Hadrian’s Wall.

The first beacon will be lit at Wallsend at approximately 5.35pm (sunset is at 6.11pm), and lighting will progress in sequence east to west with a six-second delay between each beacon firing up; 50 minutes later, the last beacon in Bowness should be lit.

The beacons will be 6-8ft tall with a 2-3 foot flame. Hadrian’s Wall will stay alight in this way for approximately 75 minutes. It has been suggested that all the lights should be extinguished at the same time to mark the anniversary of the end of Roman Occupation in 410AD, but I believe this is still under discussion.

You can apply to be one of the lucky ones to light the beacons (and receive a certificate to say you were an ‘Illuminator’). More than 1,500 applications have already been received; you can add yours to the pile here.

Other audienceparticipation events are planned in Wallsend/Newcastle and in Carlisle (although when you think about Hadrian’s Wall, neither Newcastle nor Carlisle immediately springs to mind). As I write, there is no additional entertainment currently planned for any of the viewing areas along the Wall itself.

The Best Places to View the Light Show

Plan well ahead, and research how long you are going to need to get to your chosen spot.Once there, the actual event will last around about one and a half hours.

For ideas of where best to view the light show (and the Wall in general), see my website. There is a grid reference on each of my photographs this should show you, on the centre of the relevant multimap, where I was standing when I took the shot.

A lot of the Hadrian’s Wall Path is relatively flat and, in the dark, not terribly interesting, but the high crags part of the Wall from Sewingshields to Birdoswald is going to look spectacular.

On the high bit of Hadrian’s Wall itself, there will be three main viewing areas at Steel Rigg (NY750676) (NE47 7AN)at Housesteads (NY790687) and Birdoswald(NY618663)(CA8 7DD).

You must apply for a free ticket to park at these points organisers anticipate 500-800 people at each viewing point.Disability parking will be available at Brocolitia (not exactly an exciting view point, I’m afraid).It is intended that all other car parks on Hadrian’s Wall will be locked and lay-bys cordoned off. (Organisers cite health and safety reasons.)

The roads are very, very narrow and the grass verges are boggy with hidden ditches, so parking is going to be a

And if all else fails and you miss capturing this once-in-a-lifetime event yourself, a helicopter will be flying the route recording the event; a video will be available for sale at a later date.

problem if you haven’t got a ticket to get you into the official parking sites. Park and Ride may be available, depending on demand.

The highest point on Hadrian’s Wall is Winshields Crag, and that can be accessed from Steel Rigg there is normally a parking fee but on the 13th it will be ticket only parking.

Farmers will need access at all times, so be considerate of their needs throughout your visit, but especially when you are trying to park. You’ll be walking on farm land and, as it will be lambing season, keep dogs on a lead and close all gates behind you. Please respect the countryside and don’t leave litter.Hadrian’s Wall itself is an ancient monument don’t climb up on it for a better view.

Be Prepared

Take appropriate walking boots, and dont underestimate how dark it can get a torch is a must as the ground is uneven and the rocks are slippery. Also consider taking extra warm clothing and a flask of tea or coffee there’ll be a lot of standing around.

At Steel Rigg you’re near to the Twice Brewed pub, and there are toilets in the Once Brewed Visitor Centre. Housesteads has accessible toilets but there are no facilities at Birdoswald and, as far as I know, English Heritage has no plans to openany of its sites during the weekend.

Vindolanda will be open that weekend and, in my opinion, it’s the most interesting site on Hadrian’s Wall maybe plan to visit it on the Sunday. Note, however, that the Vindolanda Museum is currently being upgraded and won’t be open to visitors.

If staying overnight, book accommodation as soon as possible; local B&Bs are already filling up, so don’t dither.

Taking Photographs

Its going to be low light, so youll need a camera capable of a long exposure. Because its a long exposure, you’ll need to rest on something solid, a wall or fence post will do if you don’t have a tripod. If you dont have a remote release, you can use the self timer but check how long its set for (during one 30sec exposure, I picked up the camera to check it was working and got an unflattering shot of my nose).

Some compact cameras do have a night scene setting, but test that out before the event. A small compact camera flash is not going to be any good, it will get the heads of those people in front of you and not much else.

I know viewing and picture opportunities are going to be limited by the sheer number of people there, but try and get close and use Hadrians Wall to act as a lead-in line. And remember that the flame nearest to you will influence the light meter. I intend to take a meter reading away from the direct light and then bracket my exposures so that if nothing works out quite the way I hope, I can blend shots in Photoshop afterwards (fingers crossed Photoshop is not my favourite tool).

And if all else fails and you miss capturing this once-in-a-lifetime event yourself, a helicopter will be flying the route recording the event; a video will be available for sale at a later date.

The official website has more information, and we will be reporting back from the event later. Keep an eye on Heritage Key for more!

Photography Tips From Derry Brabbs: Shooting Hadrian’s Wall

Derry Brabbs is one of Englands finest heritage and landscape photographers. He has published more than 25 books, including collaborations with reknowned rambler Alfred Wainwright. His book England’s Heritage, a project in conjunction with English Heritage, featured more than 600 photographs of sites that have shaped England’s past.

He is both author and photographer of his latest book, Hadrian’s Wall. The book traces the Wall from west to east, from the Solway Firth to Wallsend on Tyneside, taking in places of historical significance along the way.

Brabbs has been photographing Hadrians Wall since his first assignment along the Roman frontier with Wainwright in 1984. For his Hadrian’s Wall project, he made countless trips over many months, battling the fickle microclimates of Cumbria and Northumberland to capture the essence of arguably Britain’s most important Roman remains.

Here, he tells HK about his experiences shooting the Wall and he also offers some advice for amateur photographers wanting to shoot the Wall either during daytime or, with the Wall set to be illuminated for one night only, after dark.

HK: You’ve been photographing Hadrian’s Wall since 1984, when you worked on a book with Wainwright. Can you tell us a bit about what you remember most about that first time shooting the wall?

DB: I remember a sense of awe that such a huge monument existed amidst wild countryside and on a bleak Pennine day, an overwhelming feeling of sympathy towards those tasked with both its building and subsequent. It was a spine-tingling and somewhat humbling experience to stand alone on one of the Walls highest vantage points, touching blocks of stone that were originally slotted into place by 2nd century soldiers from the Roman Legions based in York, Chester or Caerleon. Because we now take so much for granted and rely on technology for even the most basic tasks, it is easy to forget just how much of our built heritage was accomplished solely through manual labour.

HK: Were you interested in Roman history before you started photographing the wall?

DB: Not at the time of Wainwright, but I did encounter the Romans well before I did my own book on the Wall during the writing and photography of a major book I did in 2001 entitled Englands Heritage. My involvement with Hadrians Wall has served as a tangible reminder of just how incredibly meglomaniacal the Roman Empire was, but that they also had the manpower and military might to enforce their attempts at Known World domination.

HK: Can you tell us how your Hadrian’s Wall project came together?

DB: I initially chose Hadrians Wall as a potentially ideal subject for the publishers ‘A Year in the Life of’ series but we decided that because of the linear nature of the Wall, darting backwards and forwards during the different seasons would simply lead to confusion not least to the writer!

It took about nine months or maybe a bit longer to compile the images and write the text. One of my favourite moments was a foggy and frosty autumn sunrise at Black Carts when all the ingredients simply fell into place in way that does not happen very often.

Landscape photographers always have to be advocates of the glass half full philosophy, rather than the less optimistic version but the English climate does usually provide the half empty version! Another highlight was discovering the fragmentary ruins of Great Chesters fort, especially the originally altar stone left in situ by the south gate. Not a clue how many actual pictures I shot, but probably about 80 rolls of 35mm film in total; there are approximately 135 images in the book. Because I produce transparencies rather digital images, I have to overshoot for safety by doing camera dupes and bracketing exposures no Photoshop tweaking for me.

HK: You also authored this book as well. To what extent do you enjoy writing and shooting your own projects compared to collaborating with writers?

DB: I am still trying to decide whether an empty brain coupled to a blank computer screen is worse than a three-day location shoot plagued by constant low cloud or drizzle and the flat, grey light that only the Pennines can produce. However, the clouds in the sky often clear faster than the ones still lingering in the authors head and it is refreshing to simply be able to practice ones main calling as a photographer when illustrating another writers words.

HK: Are there any sections of the wall you most enjoy photographing?

DB: It has to be the central section between Cawfields and Housesteads because that is where the Wall soars up and over the undulating ridges of the Whin Sill as the Wall and its surrounding landscape are never the same two days running.

HK: When do you prefer shooting it?

DB: Autumn and winter are best because the low angle of the sun throughout the day creates stronger textures and softer colours on the stonework. And early morning is best; the colours seem richer, have a greater intensity and the atmosphere is often clearest then too. Sunsets can be good but because of the way the Wall is configured, all the best photographic angles of the Wall depend on morning or early afternoon light.

HK: What’s in your camera bag every time you photograph the Wall?

DB: Olympus OM4ti camera body, 24mm wide angle lens, 35mm Perspective Control (shift) lens and 65-200mm zoom. Polarising filters and graduated neutral density filters. Heavy duty Manfrotto tripod and a cable release. Copious quantities of Fuji Velvia 50 film.

HK: What sort of setup do you recommend amateur photographers use?

DB: Nothing special really but a wide angle lens will give dramatic images from close range and a telephoto is useful for pulling distant views and compositions in closer to the viewer. Do not believe all the hype written about the latest gear and how much one has to pay to achieve good results a camera is only as good as the eyes and creative instincts of the person holding it.

HK: The wall will be illuminated in March for one night what advice can you offer amateur photographers who are wanting to photograph it after dark?

DB: Research and recce. I cannot overstate the importance of knowing what you want to do and how it can be achieved. If there is chance to visit the Wall in advance of the day, take that opportunity to work out which vantage point you need for the shot. If you cant, look at lots of pictures and imagine each scene at dusk with the lights on and see if that might work for you. Do some practical tests around your own place at dusk, twilight and in the dark so that when the time comes, you know what settings to use on the camera. Beware of simply exposing for a bright light source and reducing the rest of the image to under exposed darkness. Assuming the lights will be lit before darkness descends, there is always a precious twilight moment when there is just enough light left to show some detail in the landscape, but the atmosphere of night created by lights will predominate. Check beforehand that your chosen vantage point is safely accessible on the night and that parking is available within easy walking distance. And take a powerful torch!

In general (and this goes for shooting during the day a well), I would say be prepared to walk not all the best views happen next to the car parks, and the main road running parallel with the Wall is a no-go parking zone with few pull-in places. Set the alarm clock and get out early, losing a few hours sleep is nothing compared to the rewards of a great picture.

HK: Your next book is on the river Thames will it carry any echoes of London’s Roman past?

DB: Thank you for asking! It is a beautifully photographed narrative covering the river from its source to the sea and although the Roman presence will come into it, I dont envisage delving too far into Londons Roman past in great detail, although it is inevitably an integral part of its history and has to be incorporated when and where appropriate.

All photos reproduced from Hadrian’s Wall by Derry Brabbs, published at 14.99 by Frances Lincoln.

Light Up! Light Up! Hadrian’s Wall to get Spectacular Light Show

Iluminating Hadrian's Wall Hadrians Wall all 84 miles of it will be bathed in light for one night only in March.

A spectacular line of light will run along the entire coast-to-coast Hadrians Wall Path National Trail on Saturday, March 13.

Lights will be placed at 250m intervals along the route thats around 500 illuminated spots stretching from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria. The Romans built fortlets, known as milecastles, along the Wall at intervals of one Roman mile. Between each milecastle, and spaced one third of a Roman mile apart, were a series of turrets. The plan is to create a point of light where all the milefortlets and turrets were located, with an additional point of light between each of them. There will also be a number of stewarded points along the wall where people will be able to view the line of light.

The Illuminating Hadrians Wall project coincides with British Tourism Week 2010 (March 15-21) and is the brainchild of Hadrians Wall Heritage Ltd, who are planning a massive eco-revamp of the site over the next five years.

It is one of a number of events being held in the North East of England and Cumbria presented by Kendal Arts International and Manchester International Arts. It forms part of the events and festivals programme for culture10 in the North East of England and the Lakes Alive festival in Cumbria.

It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a line of light stretching from one side of England to the other.

Linda Tuttiett, the Chief Executive of Hadrians Wall Heritage Ltd, says the light project will bring to life Britains longest and greatest piece of heritage and celebrate the landscape of Hadrians Wall Country.

What could be more spectacular than a line of light that will stretch from coast to coast illuminating this stunning World Heritage Site?

The event is being produced by John Farquhar-Smith who was the technical director for the 8-minute handover ceremony for London 2012 at the closing of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a line of light stretching from one side of England to the other, he says. Our aim is to capture the publics imagination with an event that will show the immense scale and beauty of Hadrians Wall and the countryside, villages, towns and cities that it runs through. It will be a celebration of a truly iconic piece of World heritage.

Sharing the Light

A camera crew will film the line of light as it makes its way from coast to coast from a helicopter and the pictures will be beamed to giant screens as part events in the North East and at Carlisle.

Stella Hall, Creative Director of culture10 said, We are delighted to celebrate the lighting of the iconic Hadrians Wall, and hope that audiences will join us on the evening of March 13 at the events in Carlisle and Wallsend where we can share in this once in a lifetime experience.

Julie Tait, director of Lakes Alive, says the project is part of a four-year programme building up to the London 2012 Olympics. [It] is all about bringing to life the rich and spectacular landscapes and heritage of Cumbria, she says.

Hadrians Wall formed the Roman frontier across the north of England for almost 300 years. It was built in AD122 by the Roman army on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian. In 1987 it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and in 2005 became part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site.

Today it attracts visitors from all over the world, and is a firm favourite with the nation’s children, who voted it second only to Stonehenge in a recent poll, in which it beat attractions such as the London Eye hands down.

Also about the ‘Light Up’ of Hadrian’s Wall on Heritage Key:

Rome’s Third Metro Line Delayed Again By Archaeological Discoveries

While London’s tube had much of its 12 lines and 250 miles of track in place well before the mid 20th century, Rome is still struggling to add its third metro line. The problem is an age-old one: the metro runs deep underground and is deep enough so that the tunnels themselves do not interfere too much with Rome’s layers of buried civilisations. The stations and air vents, however, need to come to the surface and, much to the frustration of the construction company, they more often than not strike valuable archaeological areas.

The first line (the unchronologically-named line B) was completed in the 1950s, and the second (line A) followed in the 1980s after 20 slow years of archaeological digs. But what hope is there for a new line C? With a completion date set for 2015, the president of the company building the new metro line, Giovanni Ascarelli, admits that the infrastructure project is already way behind schedule.

Archaeological Finds on Line C

Several recent finds from the metro works are of great importance they were announced today at Palazzo Massimo by three archaeologists working on the project: Roberto Egidi, Mirella Serlorenzi and Fedora Filippi. They include:

an auditorium believed to have been from the age of Hadrian in piazza Venezia about five metres in front of the monument to Vittorio Emanuele;
Nero‘s Greek gymnasium near Nero’s thermal baths on Corso Vittorio Emanuele (in front of the church Sant Andrea della Valle);
traces of a canal that drained the marshy ground of the Campus Martius;
parts of the Aurelian wall built in 271 AD;
traces of machinery and equipment used in building the Colosseum;
remains of human habitation from the Eneolithic and Bronze Ages (from the fourth to the third millennia BC) near the site of Gabii.

According to Filippi, there is now enough evidence to redraw part of the map of the Campus Martius (Field of Mars the large flat area of ancient Rome between the Capitoline Hill, the Tiber and the Quirinal Hill, used at times for military training).

Work on line C began in 2006, but if the works for line A are anything to go by, Romans may not be travelling underground between Grottarossa and Pantano for quite some time yet. Line C is planned to have stations at Ottaviano (north of St Peter’s), at the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia and San Giovanni. By 2011 work is planned to begin for a fourth line D so Romans can expect to see quite a few more holes in the ground cordoned off with orange plastic nets on the route between piazza Venezia and EUR.

According to this article by Ann Wise in abcnews, the area of Largo Argentina was one of the planned metro stations for line C but these were scrapped when archaeological excavations couldn’t find a suitable space that wouldn’t damage the Roman temples currently being excavated in the area (also in the vicinity are Crypta Balbi and Pompey’s theatre).

The most important discovery in the current line C project is Hadrian’s auditorium, dating from around 135 AD and also referred to by ancient writers. During excavation work probing for space for the piazza Venezia metro station, archaeologists came across two sets of yellow marble steps. They now believe these are of the small theatre built at the emperor’s own expense.

Photos by the Superindency of Archaeological Heritage of Rome.

Interdisciplinary Project Takes a Look at Via Tiburtina Through the Ages

An architect and a classical archaeologist have come together to give a new perspective on one of Rome’s ancient roads, via Tiburtina. The result is a book just published, Via Tiburtina – Space, Movement and Artefacts in the Urban Landscape, which examines the constantly changing urban space of the road. The project involved six years of studying almost every inch of the ancient road and takes an interdisciplinary look at the road through the ages and from various angles, including its history during antiquity, the Renaissance and up to its continued use today.

The origins of via Tiburtina date back 3,000 years (although the Roman foundations of the road were laid in 286 BC). The modern incarnation of the road starts in the centre of Rome, just east of Rome’s Termini station, although archaeologists believe it would have extended as far as the Tiber during Roman times. It leads eastwards to Tivoli, home and court to Hadrian during the latter years of his reign. It would have been the emperor‘s (and his messengers’) main route to Rome. The road carries on beyond Tivoli, and during Roman times it went all the way to Pescara on the Adriatic coast. Today it might be known to motorists as State Road 5, but many stretches of the modern road also still bear its original name.

Hans Bjur, professor in Urban Transformations at the Department of Conservation, University of Gothenburg and professor Barbro Santillo Frizell, director of the Swedish Institute in Rome, are the leaders of this unique research project that considers the Roman and pre-Roman history of the road, as well as its modern use as a busy traffic artery into the city’s chaotic capital. It also examines the the relationship between the road and the city’s development. The book claims to launch a new approach to modern city development, calling it urban landscape archaeology.

The book is divided into 13 illustrated chapters written by experts from various disciplines, including archaeology, cultural heritage, ancient history, architecture, art and building conservation.

The leaders of this collaborative project hope to have laid the foundations for further interdisciplinary research of this type but they also aim to provide analysis and processes that can be of practical use in the the planning of modern towns.

The book is published by the Swedish Institute in Rome with the support of the Swedish Research Council, and is being distributed by eddy.se. The book was launched on the Swedish market at the Gteborg Book Fair, 24-27 September, and will be launched internationally in Rome on 11-12 December.

Photos by Jonathan Westin and Ake E:son Lindman.

Hadrian’s Wall Originally Wooden, Speculates Expert Ahead of Major Congress on Roman Frontiers

The public are being invited to have their voices heard at an open session in Newcastle, England of a major congress of experts in the field of Roman history and archaeology, on the subject of the frontiers of the Roman Empire. Titled ‘Presenting the Roman Frontiers Communicating the Evidence’, it’ll take place at Newcastle University on August 21. Newcastle lies just south of the line of Hadrians Wall, the huge fortification built across northern England and southern Scotland by the Romans in the 2nd century AD at the northernmost extreme of their empire, to keep out marauding Picts.

International specialists gather every three years to discuss Rome’s frontiers, which once stretched from Hadrians Wall and the Antonine Wall in the north, along the banks of the Rhine and the Danube in the east, to the deserts of North Africa in the south. Their aim is to establish new and different means by which to best transmit the story of the frontiers of Rome to visitors, in a way that balances their protection and preservation for future generations with adequate public access and interaction. As well as the opinion of academics and museum curators, the congress want to canvass the views of the public too.

The congress is hosted by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, and will see the army of experts head to various Roman sites in the north of England, which as well as Hadrians Wall, include the likes of Ravenglass and Hardknott Roman Forts in Cumbria, Binchester Roman Fort in County Durham and Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend.

The congress comes after Geoff Carter a local archaeologist from Hexham, Northumberland has produced the findings of a study, 20 years in the making, on what he believes to have been the original composition of Hadrians Wall. Its based on his theory as to the purpose of the three lines of mysterious double postholes that run parallel to the stone rampart’s remains. Similarly to the Aubrey Holes at Stonehenge, theyve baffled experts for years. The large ditch that also runs parallel to the wall is confusingly too far away to have been much use when it came to repelling invaders. Carter thinks he finally has the answer: the ditch was dug at the foot of a wooden wall, which was erected swiftly by the Romans as a transitory expedient, to give the builders of the real defensive line ample cover while they carried out their work.

“The Roman army was good at this sort of thing. Its what they did for a living. And to some extent their lives depended on it.” — Geoff Carter

The most popular theory about the postholes is that they simply held pointed wooden sticks. But in his 65,000-word thesis, the outlines of which are sketched in his Theoretical Structural Archaeology blog, Carter argues that the postholes actually represent the foundation of a hardier fortification. I demonstrate, he told the Hexham Courant, that these thousands of postholes, six posts every 4ft, are the foundation of massive timber ramparts 10ft wide, about 20ft tall, and quite probably stretching all 117kms from coast to coast. The temporary timber wall joined the turrets together during the six years it took to build the stone wall behind it.

By his reckoning, the wall would have required around 2.5 million trees to build. That would make it one of the largest wooden structures ever erected in history. But Carter doesnt think it was beyond the Romans in the 2nd century AD to construct such a massive temporary wall, and quickly too. He points to an example in Julius Caesars Account of the Gallic War, where the great Roman Emperor describes how during the siege of Alesia in France, 58-51 BC, the Roman army threw up 18kms of siege works, protected by a second wooden defensive line, in as little as three weeks. On that basis, he speculates that the large Roman legion in northern England could have constructed Hadrians Wall Mk1 in as little as 20 weeks.

Of course it wasnt that simple, he adds, but the Roman army was good at this sort of thing. Its what they did for a living. And to some extent their lives depended on it. Creating the 117kms corridor was probably achievable within a year.