
Let's head "apud Salvium" (into Salvius' house) where preparations are under way for the imminent arrival of a special guest who's traveled a long way from his recently destroyed home in Pompeii.
Digital Activities
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Cultural Background
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Ancient Britons
ANCIENT BRITONS
Superior, non-interactive map (thus good for print-out) showing the areas of British and Irish Celtic tribes. Part of an interesting article on the Celts more generally.
Excellent introductory website, with interactive map, on the Celtic tribes at the time of the Roman invasion.
Fairly brief descriptions of the Celtic tribes of Britain, providing intelligent commentary upon the few facts we often have.
List of Celtic tribes in Britain linking to extremely detailed information on each tribe making it suitable for older surfers.
The tombstone of Longinus, a Roman auxilliary-cavalry officer from Bulgaria, showing him riding in victory over a conquered Briton.
The original is in Colchester Museum; as depicted on p.42 of CLC Bk.II.
Brief explanation with links and images from the British Museum.
Detailed information about the druids can be found in our website section DRUIDES.
Also check out DRUIDS: IMAGE GALLERY.
The Roman Invasions
THE ROMAN INVASIONS
JULIUS CAESAR'S INVASIONS: 55 & 54 BC
"Julius Caesar's two invasions of 55 and 54 BC did not result in any permanent occupation of Britain. Indeed, they barely constituted more than explorartoy raids. NO physical trace of either expedition has ever been found. Sideshows in the conquest of Gaul, they were nevertheless of colossal importance to Britain."
From Roman Britain by Guy de la Bedoyere.
The simple facts...
Scroll ahead to the section on "Julius Caesar" (p13) for a highly readable account by T.W.Potter of the invasions. These are "Look Inside" webpages from the Short Oxford History of the Britsh Isles (OUP, 2002).
A detailed analysis of Julius Caesar's landings in Britain. Primarily for older students but the picture of the beach where J.C. perhaps landed is of interest to all.
JC's account of his second invasion in 54 BC from his book Gallic Wars.
An amazing example of ancient sculpture! Made sometime in the 1st-century BC or AD, and thought to have come from Rome, this bust is made of Egyptian green slate (except the marble eyes which are modern) and conveys the majesty and authority of Caesar. Note how he's shown not in military uniform but in the tunic and toga of the Roman statesman.
In the Altes Museum in Berlin.
Click for more on JULIUS CAESAR in our separate section.
CLAUDIUS' INVASIONS: 43 AD
A good introduction from TimeTeam: from Julius Caesar's expedition in 55 BC through to Claudius' invasion in AD 43.
Excellent account of the invasion using many extracts from the Roman historians, thus more suitable for older surfers.
On p20 of the linked pdf Professor Mark Hassall discusses the reasons for the Roman invasions of Britain by Caesar and Claudius, the settlement of the province of Britannia under Claudius' first governor, Aulus Plautius, where the legions were based, the question of the frontier and the creation of the three client kingdoms.
Picture, plan and description of the fort at Richborough (Roman Rutupiae) in Kent - in all probability the Romans' landing-spot during Claudius' invasion.
Wiki page discussing the possible landing sites for the Claudian invasion of Britain in AD 43. While there are good accounts of the other two Roman invasions, controversy still surrounds Claudius' reasons for invading Britain and his military plans.
Click for more on EMPEROR CLAUDIUS
in our separate section.
Romans in Britain
ROMANS IN BRITAIN
Alphabetical list of the Latin names of towns in Great Britain and Ireland.
Introduction to life in Britain under the Romans, with sections on administration, towns, baths, entertainments, roads, villas, and trade.
The types of trade and way it was organised before and after the Romans arrived in Britain.
Fully interactive.
A short historical survey of Colchester (Camulodunum).
A personal tour of the museum, built on the site of a Roman temple, with photos of many of the great Roman finds.
Detailed, almost year-by-year account of the Roman invasion and life in Britain under the Romans.
Boudica
BOUDICA
Short summary of the Queen of the Iceni tribe.
An interactive story, aimed at 7-11 year olds, about Boudica's Revolt, seen through the eyes of four different characters: Boudica herself, a Celtic farmer, a Roman soldier and Suetonius, the Governor of Britain. There are also activities and an online glossary.
Excellent "Channel 4 on Demand" programme about the queen of the Iceni.
Only available to users in the UK.
Roman account of Boudica's revolt as told by Tacitus in Book 14 of his Annals.
Celtic Gold
CELTIC GOLD
Illustrated article about the spectacular finds of gold torcs (as illustrated on p.22 of Bk.II) and coins found in a Norfolk field ("the Snettisham Treasure"), which may have been the Iceni royal treasury.
British Museum photos of the objects found in the Snettisham Treasure. Scroll through and look for the Snettisham Great Torc. Note: most of the hoard, which is the largest deposit of gold and silver from Iron Age Europe, was more than a century before Boudica's time, so could not have belonged to her.
Links to many other Romano-British people, places and activities are to be found in Stages 13-16 in Book II, and throughout Book III.