Since 2009 the Binchester excavation project has been digging an 1,800-year-old site in County Durham. These ruins, that the Romans’ knew as “Vinovia” are being compared to the ruins of Pompeii because of the phenomenalism of their preservation. Evan Andrews, in his article, “Roman Ruins in Britain Hailed as ‘Pompeii of The North,’” does not exaggerate the British ruins in comparison to Pompeii because the structures are remarkably intact, the ruins proved Pre-Constantinian Christianity, and these ruins are uncovering more information of Roman culture. Vinovia ruins have aspects that are preserved almost as well as Pompeii. “The baths still feature original floors, windows and doorways, and plaster shards indicate that their seven-foot-high walls were once adorned with colorful designs and drawings” (2). Without the ash to preserve the structures like Pompeii, it is astonishing that the structures were preserved so well. “The most unique feature of these remains is the sheer scale of their preservation” (2). Alike Pompeii, Vinovia is exceptionally preserved. …show more content…
“Excavations at the Binchester site have also yielded a silver ring with an engraving that features two fish dangling from an anchor, often considered an early symbol of Christianity” (2). The Roman Ruins in Britain have unearthed proof of early Christianity. Furthermore, “Evidence for Roman Christianity is rare in Northern England, and evidence for Pre-Constantinian Christianity is even rarer” (2). The discovery of evidence for Pre-Constantinian Christianity is so unequalled because Christianity was not legalized until 313 A.D. and Pre-Constantinian is before 306
...ncyclopedia of Archaeology, Ed. Deborah M. Pearsall. Vol. 3. Oxford, United Kingdom: Academic Press, 2008. p1896-1905. New Britain: Elsevier, Inc.
There are several prominent geographical features that played a major role in the daily life of Pompeii. The geographical location of Pompeii, its economic and industrial activity, entertainment and the Roman influence in the city’s architecture all convey different geographical features. These features contributed in shaping the way the city’s inhabitants went about their daily lives, and all had a profound impact on Pompeii
The ginormous volcano at Akrotiri on the island of Thera during the Bronze Age was devastating, and is speculated to be related to the fall of the Minoan civilization. Starting in 1867, archeologists discovered pottery, a buried city and frescoes. These discoveries are the most significant as the pottery and the buried city helped historians learn about the art, trade and societal aspects of Akrotiri, and the frescoes found revealed more information about Akrotiri’s art and religion.
Archaeology and the Trojan War “. he [Heinrich Schliemann] found layers of ruins. and two bore unmistakable signs of violent destruction. One of these layers, the seventh according to more recent excavators, was no doubt the city of Priam and Hector. The historicity of the Homeric tale has been demonstrated archaeologically.”
Toni Hurley, Philippa Medcalf, Jan Rolph (2000) Antiquity 1 Second Edition, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne Victoria, Australia
The third and most important way that Roman culture and ideals were spread throughout western civilization is through mere contact. Whether this is through physical influence, or the study of Roman relics, Rome's ideas spread like wild fire. An importan...
However, the artefacts brought to England from Benin in 1897 were an anomaly. The craftsmanship and sophistication were such that some were reminiscent of the beautiful figures in the Hofkiche, Innsbruck 1502-1563 (plate 3.1.12. Visited...
Pompeii is possibly the best-documented catastrophe in Antiquity. Because of it, we know now how the Pompeians lived because they left behind an extensive legacy of art, including monuments, sculptures and paintings. Pompeii lay on a plateau of ancient lava near the Bay of Naples in western Italy in a region called Campania, less than 1.6 kilometers from the foot of Mount Vesuvius. With the coast to the west and the Apennine Mountains to the East, Campania is a fertile plain, traversed by two major rivers and rich soil. However, in the early days, it was not a remarkable city. Scholars have not been able to identify Pompeii’s original inhabitants. The first people to settle in this region were probably prehistoric hunters and fishers. By at least the eight century B.C., a group of Italic people known as the Oscans occupied the region; they most likely established Pompeii, although the exact date of its origin is unknown. “The root of the word Pompeii would appear to be the Oscan word for the number five, pompe, which suggests that either the community consisted of five hamlets or, perhaps, was settled by a family group (gens Pompeia)”(Kraus 7). In the course of the eight century B.C., Greek and Etruscan colonization stimulated the development of Pompeii as a city around the area of the Forum. A point for important trade routes, it became a place for trading towards the inland. Up until the middle of the 5th century B.C., the city was dominated politically by the Etruscans.
Nearly two millenniums ago a massive eruption rocked the Roman city of Pompeii, destroying buildings and coating the town in deep layers of volcanic ash. Fortunately, this same ash served as a tool for preservation and has allowed archaeologists to discover the remains of various types of Pompeii’s art. The values, beliefs, and daily workings of Roman culture have been brought to new light through the paintings, mosaics, statues and other forms of art found in the lost city of Pompeii.
8. Edmondson, J. C., and MyiLibrary. “Augustus”. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2009. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 4 May 2014.
Marcel Le Glay, Jean-Louis Voisin, Yann Le Bohec. A History of Rome. West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
...alth-giving waters.” To many, “the imperial thermae in Rome are some of the most sophisticated and ambitious large-scale buildings from the ancient world.” While the ancient bath complexes are no longer in use, their impact can still be felt. Modern Romans place great importance on culture, leisure, community and personal wellness, just as their ancestors did. Research continues to be conducted on the ruins of these sites, which will help to educate future generations on this topic and carry on its legacy. On top of this, thousands of visitors visit the ruins of the bath complexes located in Rome, Ostia and Pompeii each year, which keeps their history and significance alive. Through incredible inventiveness and innovativeness, bath complexes not only changed the face of technology but also became “the single most characteristic feature of Roman culture.”
By the 1970s, historian Peter Brown sparked an interesting debate about the Roman civilization. He dubbed a period in Roman history, ‘The Late Antiquity’, starting around 200 AD and lasting up until the eighth century, marking this was a period in time where the Roman civilization was not in decline, but in a state of transformation due to religious and cultural revolution, and causing many historians to agree or debate about this matter. Bryan Ward-Perkins, author of The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization, critiques the theory of ‘The Late Antiquity’ and firmly believes the decline of Roman civilization is influenced by its barbaric invaders. He supports his position on Rome’s Fall with evidence from the diminishing economy. Ward-Perkins raised an issue about pottery made by the Romans after the invasion of barbarians and transformation of the empire, “Three features of Roman pottery are remarkable, and not to be found again for many centuries in the West: its excellent quality and considerable standardization; the massive quantities in which it was produced; and its widespread diffusion [geographically and socially].
"National Roman Museum - Palazzo Massimo Alle Terme." Soprintendenza Speciale per I Beni Archeologici Di Roma. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014.
Boëthius, A., Ling, R., & Rasmussen, T. (1978). Etruscan and early Roman architecture. New Haven: Yale University Press.