Hi all, first post here (congrats on the great site just found it a short while ago), and a request!
I'm trying to create a collection of European city/town maps during the Roman era. Till now, I've only found a select few (obviously Rome and a couple here and there, along with the ancient cities in my country), and I'd like to have as many as possible, preferable during the mid-Republic phase but really anything would do, as long as we're talking Roman era. To be honest I'm mostly interested in the lines of ancient fortifications (city walls i.e.), as can be established through archaeology or ancient accounts, so I'm fine with city wall maps. Even hypothetical plans would do.
If anyone can point me to a website or a book that contains collections of such plans/maps I'd really appreciate it!
Thanks, in advance.
Roman buildings in Nijmegen (Netherlands)
[url:1setm237]http://www.romanaqueducts.info/aquasite/foto/nijmvroegkrt.jpg[/url]
(1) Castra Hunerberg (Augustian times and post-flavian)
(2) Roman fortresses Kops Plateau (beteen Augustian and Flavian times)
(3) Civil town
(5) fortess (?) Trajanusplein (between Augustian and Flavian times)
(6) Batavodurum (civil town)
Post-flavian castra Hunerberg:
[url:1setm237]http://www.romanaqueducts.info/aquasite/foto/hunerbergplattegrond4.jpg[/url]
(more about Nijmegen in the new book: Mark Driessen - 'Bouwen om te blijven', RACM 2007; Only in dutch, but with english and german summary.
Castra Valkenburg ZH (The Netherlands):
[url:1setm237]http://www.romanaqueducts.info/aquasite/foto/valkenburgplattegrond3.jpg[/url]
Great! Thanks
Anyone else?
At the gates of a berm/earth wall camp, did the berm stop, or was their a walkway over the moat?
Isn't there a Late Republic fort in the Balearic's? :?
The only complete walled City in England is Chester, this is the ancient Roman city of Deva. In the later Roman period most of the towns and cities found that they had to defend themselves, indeed things became so desperate at Deva that many grave stones were used in repair and building. That is why today the Grosvenor Museum at Chester has the best colletion of Roman grave stones in England.
I think to answer your question on turf walls David, is that we find the defensive ditch stops on each side of a gateway. The gateway could not realy be forced by an enemy, for in most situations these gates had the Clavicular or Tutulus type of entry infact in many situations both systems were used together.
But I don't really need plans of still-existing city walls. Hypothetical lines as drawn by archaeologists are fine.
Quote:I think to answer your question on turf walls David, is that we find the defensive ditch stops on each side of a gateway. The gateway could not realy be forced by an enemy, for in most situations these gates had the Clavicular or Tutulus type of entry infact in many situations both systems were used together.
Mostly correct, although I can't think of any marching camps where
claviculae and
tituli are used simultaneously. It seems to be one or the other. (Burnswark North siege camp is a notable exception.) In fact, Maurice Lenoir thought that he could use clavicular gates as a dating criterion, because the Flavian camps at Masada use them, but the (?Hadrianic) camps at Nahal Hever also have them, so it doesn't lead to a very accurate date.
Quote:At the gates of a berm/earth wall camp, did the berm stop, or was their a walkway over the moat?
Just be careful with your use of the word "moat", David. There's no water involved in Roman ditches -- not deliberately, anyway. (Unless you're Julius Caesar at Alesia. :wink: )
It may be well to mention there is another exception to the rule apart from Burnswark north siege camp, this one sits just below Hadrians' Wall on Haltwhistle Common.
Err sorry to intrude.... but can anyone answer my original question please?
Quote:Err sorry to intrude.... but can anyone answer my original question please?
No need to apologise!
These tangents are half the fun of RAT.
Back on track -- Roman Republican town plans? Cosa's a good one, founded in 273 BC, sacked in the 70s BC, and comprehensively explored by the American Academy in Rome.
Thanks! Nice one there. Not necessarily Roman ones, but preferably towns that existed during the Roman republic or around that time.
Seville had walls. May have to Google a plan. Trying to remember when they were first built though.