Cape of Sounion, with its famous temple dedicated to the god Poseidon, is one of the most beautiful natural areas of Attica and one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Greece. In ancient times it was called Sounias Akra (edge) and was connected with the legends of Athens and the Aegean. Cape Sounion is… Continue reading Photoset: The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, Greece
Category: Archaeology Travel
Exploring Hadrian’s Athens
Hadrian was a dedicated philhellene who admired Greek culture and did his best to be accepted and admired by the Greeks. He visited Greece three times as emperor (AD 124/5, 128/9 and 131/2), and he was especially fond of Athens. The philhellenic emperor did all he could to raise Athens to a special position in… Continue reading Exploring Hadrian’s Athens
Following Hadrian in Achaia
In just a few hours I will be travelling to Greece in Hadrian's footsteps, retracing the journey he undertook in the province of Achaia in 124-125 AD. “Hardly any emperor ever traveled with such speed over so much territory” the Historia Augusta tells us. Surely Hadrian was the emperor who honored the provinces with his presence… Continue reading Following Hadrian in Achaia
The Roman Tower of Centum Cellas, Portugal
The Tower of Centum Cellas (also known as the "Tower of St. Cornelius"), located in the municipality of Colmeal da Torre in Portugal, is one of the most enigmatic monuments from the Roman period to be found in the country. These majestic ruins were part of a large Roman villa from the first century AD, situated on… Continue reading The Roman Tower of Centum Cellas, Portugal
Roman mosaics from Lusitania (Portugal)
Among the most impressive Roman remains that can be seen today in Portugal are the large, prosperous farms and luxurious villas built in the countryside by the elite. The villas were splendidly decorated with mosaics, frescoes, and sculptures. Some of the mosaics, still in situ or exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Lisbon, are often very… Continue reading Roman mosaics from Lusitania (Portugal)
Photoset: The temple of Antoninus and Faustina, Rome
The Temple of Divus Antoninus and Divus Faustina (Templum Divi Antonini et Divae Faustinae) was built by the emperor Antoninus Pius in A.D. 141 on the north side of the Via Sacra shortly after the death of his wife, the empress Faustina. When Antoninus Pius died in A.D. 161 (on 7th March), the temple was… Continue reading Photoset: The temple of Antoninus and Faustina, Rome
Photoset: The Roman Temple of Évora (Portugal)
The Roman Temple of Évora (Templo Romano de Évora), also referred to as the Templo de Diana (although there is no basis in fact for this designation), is an ancient temple in the historic city of Évora, Portugal. The temple is part of the historical centre of the city, which was included in the classification… Continue reading Photoset: The Roman Temple of Évora (Portugal)
Looking for Roman bridges in Lusitania (Portugal)
One of the best preserved ancient Roman road networks is to be found in the Roman Province of Lusitania (including approximately all of modern Portugal and part of modern Spain) with numerous cobbled streets and an amazing amount of well-preserved bridges. I visited many of those bridges as part as my archaeological trip to Portugal… Continue reading Looking for Roman bridges in Lusitania (Portugal)
Photoset: The Roman Amphitheatre of Salona (Croatia)
Salona, once the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia, is situated near the present-day city of Solin (near Split), in one of the most beautiful bays of the East Adriatic coast. Salona was a stronghold and a harbour of the Illyrian Delmati which came early into the sphere of influence of the Greeks on… Continue reading Photoset: The Roman Amphitheatre of Salona (Croatia)
The Villa Borg – images of a reconstructed Roman Villa in Saarland (Germany)
Ruins of a grand Roman country house (villa rustica) were discovered by a local school teacher at the end of the 19th century outside the village of Borg in the municipality of Perl (Germany), near where the Saar River runs into the Moselle. The Villa consisted of three wings covering an area of more than… Continue reading The Villa Borg – images of a reconstructed Roman Villa in Saarland (Germany)