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Pertinax

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  1. Pertinax
    the time approaches for my "cross cultural" review of this work .I think the review will be better handled if its specialised parts are dismembered between UNRV at blog level-for the sections on "analysis of ancient cultures from a modern perspective" and "fermented medicines/cultural ceremonial of celtic /european societies" in relation to Roman medicines, and foodstuffs. The review of the "hardcore" historical analysis for non-european societies and detailed recipe critique ,including the historical analysis of European herbalism will I think live more happily on Pantagathus' "The Nectar of Gods! " site. The book is massive and full of detail so I think that, combined with the outage we are experiencing , the review will be in episodes .
    After this I must return to my central materia medica in Rome and comment on Galen who keeps getting shoved aside !
  2. Pertinax
    The ongoing work at Vindolanda will probably take centuries to come to fruition, a sobering thought, our own words will be history by then. The blog title is the title of the book by Anthony Birley whose family have devoted themselves to the exploration of the site , he himself was born in the house adjacent to the fort and I was priveliged to meet him, very briefly, recently.
    The book is an excellent commentary on the Tablets and the great difficulties in retrieval,restoration and interpretation of the evidence. Its very specialised though easy to read, because Birley is totally absorbed in the Roman world and its interpretation. The extreme ordinariness is the great endearing factor of the tablets, the daily grind of provisioning and patrolling ;the flashes of contact between long dead writer and modern reader due to total , banal dullness of normal but wholly undestanderbale events-far more than reading about some deadly siege or warfare, senatorial intrigue or imperial madness .
    The Batavii are brought to life, Germanic people of fierce pride lead by their own aristocrats as crack Auxilliae, who need beer , bread , shoe repairs, new underwear, bacon, lard, and want loans repaying on time and no funny business from dimwit native trainees who'd better learn to use a pilum fast (or else).
    The deciphering of the texts is a near miracle exceeded only by their survival.
     
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0...1608667-1014833
     
    and apologies: the msn blog although holding bulk uploads of site visits is still very crude after I demolished it wholesale last year, Pantagathus' excellent TNOG site has my beer blogs
    http://www.thenectarofgods.com/index.asp read em and weep!
     
    and should recieve my herbal beer updates if spring ever arrives here, but my old photography blogs have been consigned to history.If I am able to upload some of my enormous video archive to a server I will certainly link to the Hadrian's Wall footage here.
     
    http://spaces.msn.com/Triclinium/PersonalSpace/
     
    dont forget there are multiple romanophile galleries here-use the drop down menu!
  3. Pertinax
    Quite a trip to Luguvallum (Carlisle). I stayed in Stanwix , that is the suburb just North of the River Eden Bridge. Stanwix being the possible former tribal capital of the Great( but troublesome) Lady Cartiamandua , client monarch of the Romans , inconstant bedfellow of Venuntius the King.
     
    background is here:
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=3575
     
    my location here:
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=714
     
    AS you can see almost adjacent to the first of the Hadrianic Wall (proper ) forts at Uxelodunum as given on this map, but now known as Petriana.To the West we have the turf/coastal defence system of the Solway area running down to Alavanna , to the East the central section of Vindolanda and Vircovicium.( Scroll down the blog for previous reports).
     
    Physical remains are negligible, though everytime the ground is touched in Carlisle a wealth of items emerges. I will be posting some gallery items relating to ballistic projectiles and coinage
     
    The Castle in Carlisle is a building with a long medieval-near modern history,David of Scotland ordered it built in 1130 , Mary Queen of Scots was held here, The Jacobites took the Castle then suffered seige and defeat themselves in 1745, the Border (Reiver) conflicts flared constantly around this area and latterly this was and is an infantry barracks with regimental museum.
     
    http://spaces.msn.com/triclinium/
     
    my external blog has a "Carlisle Citadel " gallery (roughly set out so far) showing sundry views and items from a catholic time period (annotation will follow when eyesight permits).Roman items will appear in the gallery here.
     
     
     
    I visited Tullie House museum but photography is not allowed , however I am hoping to obtain permission to shoot the specialised medical equipment in the collection-particularly the specialised eye surgery tools . Tullie is very good but I still think Vindolanda is the best collection I have seen so far never mind the actual fort area.
     
    http://www.aldinghamhouse.co.uk/
     
    and that is where to stay if visiting the area.
     
    Soon also there wil be three major Roman re-enactment weekends, Bana , Bremetenacum and Skipton: I have already booked the hotel for the first of these in two weeks time.
     
    Arthurian Legend.
     
    edit: now the other thing that emerged from this trip was regarding Arthur (King of the Britons, Defeater of the Saxons!), at the hotel I read a long document posted from the Isle of Man by an eccentric scholar.Essentially he identified Stanwix and the site of Aldingham as a sub-Roman stronghold (not at all unreasonable if you check the topography).Further more he suggested Arthur as son of the King of Dalradia (Dumfries) , ally of Urens (northern Cumbria), with Merlin coming from modern Eskdailmuir, fatally wounded at the battle of Camelann. Camelann being by my calculations somewhere north of the Wall near Bana . The time frame is 570-595 ish. Arthur was then laid to reast on a barge and his body taken to the Isle of Man, that then being part of Dalradia.
    Now virtually every County feels it has an Arthurian claim but I like this tale as it hints at a cavalry mounted sub-Roman Briton (I usually suggest Arthur might have been a Sarmatian/Briton " born in the camp" to a high ranking Auxilliary ) . So I offer you one more possible thread...
  4. Pertinax

    Architectus

    By Pertinax,

    I have put together a small selection of pictures, relating to the work of the recently deceased John Davis of LEG II AVG. Nothing fancy, just an indication of the talent and knowledge that has been lost at the passing of this worthy Romanophile.
     
    Firstly we see him with his scales in the booth of the Architectus, here he is weighing the extremely valuable lapis lazuli for crushing into a paint pigment. This is a top of the range Roman colourant , ordinary people would have to make do with the commoner (but by no means cheap Egyptian self-glazed blue tiles, fired in thin slabs and crushed to dust ).
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=959
     
    Then we see the range of (natural) pigments in his "paintbox", the egyptian blue is the lump of material to the bottom right of the box.We see his paintings and his various surveying instruments also.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=907
     
    Then we see his booth set up again at Gargrave, note the globes of the known world and the celestial sphere, the model hypocaust also.The artwork on the wall is his also.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=960
     
    A domestic interior painted by John, a genteel Lady is at home.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=961
     
    and finally a blow up of John (on the left) in his Belgic Auxilliary gear.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=962
     
    The Gods Rest his Soul!
  5. Pertinax

    Toxin (part 2).

    By Pertinax,

    Another festive toxicological glossary:
     
    Datura : Thorn apple/jimsonweed, the fruit and leaves (which Arabs smoke) have a high concentration of alkaloids (atropine and scopolamine) , in small doses a specific for asthma, otherwise deleriant and hallucogenic.
     
    Digitalis: foxglove , full of semi toxic cardaic glycosides. You may have a relative who takes digoxin for his heart? Slows a damaged heart to allow steady systole/diastole movement, too much and it stops..
     
    Dioxins: organic compounds containig chlorine , damaging to DNA- hence exposed persons may have damaged offspring .
     
    Ergot: a fungal infestation of sveral grasses -lysurgic acid ring a bell? Produces mania and can lead to gangrene by cutting off blood supply to extremities.
     
    Hemlock :Conium maculatum an umbillifer that causes a drowsy gentle death, unlike Hemlock Water Dropwort (Oenanthe) which causes a paroxysmic one.
     
    Laudunum: tincture of Opium freely available in many Victorian medicines , used recreationally but poisinous in strong doses.
     
    Lead :toxic heavy metal , breaks the disulfide bridge in proteins hence distorts them and alters proper function. Can be removed by steady countermeasures especially by sulphur based compounds.\
     
    Levant nut: Cocculus , a stupifier used by thieves and assasins to render a victim incapable.
     
    Mercury: heavy metal curse of the modern world, friend of parasites and disease.
  6. Pertinax

    Arbeia

    By Pertinax,

    Arbeia (present day South Shields) was at the Eastern extremity of Hadrian's Wall. The modern town could be described as "post industrial" , with the re-created fort gate and barrack blocks of the fort sitting on a dig site within a late victorian townscape. At Arbeia A T Croom (of Tyne and wear Museums) has worked on the re-creation of Roman furniture , and indeed published a work of that name which i am presently annotating. I would like to show some interesting items that may elicit comment and questions.
    Firstly we have a baby couch/bed (best to use these terms interchangably in all references to Roman "beds" as the purpose was nearly always twofold)with a simple restraining rail to prevent rolling:
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=2152
    We move along to a more prosperous rom with a substantial couch , enclosed to protect the user. Do not forget that the Romans did not use backed chairs in any quantity , either one reclined or sat upright on a stool:
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=2153
    Thirdly ,wardrobes and chest storage..looking very modern indeed. Again the rich were the only people with storage problems for clothes , the relative cost of clothing meant that ordinary folk had little choice and of course other household ephemera (childrens toys as a prime example ) were a virtual unknown in Roman times, so putting the kids stuff into a cupboard would be unheard of (or falling over train sets and barbies).
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=2154
     
    There is more to say on the buildings as well.Please check my msn blog for an Arbeia entry.
  7. Pertinax

    Aqua Sullis

    By Pertinax,

    I hope to have a little time away in the next week, if all goes to plan I hope to report from Aqua Sullis , Corinnium Dobrunnorum , Vxacona, Vertis , Salinae and Colonia Glevensis. I hope also to look at some Marcher Castles in the Welsh Borders.
    As usual the weather will require the indulgence of the Deities at this time of year. Aqua Sullis alone will be photogenic in the rain.So I hope I will have more images for you soon.
  8. Pertinax
    Lost Warrior asked a question which I have pondered on for many years-what is your prefered method of delivery for herbal medicines?. ( the basic question was infusion or oil as a preference).
     
    Pardon me double blogging today but this needs a reasonably considered reply.
     
    The reply is more complicated: my preferences would be:
    1. Fluid Extract (strong/pure).This in truth is an infusion in concentrated form.
    2.Tincture ( quite strong /stable for a long time).
    3.Pure herb-but this depends on the required use ,so for example I would prefer to use Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva) as a powder in conjunction with Golden Seal (as a tincture) , being the "best" combination for some stomachic problems.Otherwise the pure herb is relativley weak in comparison to 1 and 2 above, though for a wound (Yarrow) I would apply the fresh plant and take the extract.
    4.encapsulated herb extract-if you dont like the taste or smell of a strong herb
    5.tablets and lozenges-tend to be milder formulations.
    6.oils-deceptivley easy to use but can be fearsomely strong so best avoided if you are unsure.Pure oils are excellent, Frankinscence and Wintergreen are great healing medicaments but must be used with care.l
     
    As you can see I havent given a straight answer , if I was Medicus to a legion I would ensure a.a supply of freshly cut herbs( say comfrey and yarrow in particular for bruising, gashes), b.a store of dried herb and herbs macerated in wine ( wormwood and walnut for antiparasitic use as well as the two entries above and something as a cough medicine, probably a mallow) .c.acetum for wounds d.a supply of Opium and henbane for painkilling .
    And a lot of wine for me, and some attractive female assistants
  9. Pertinax
    Ive dropped a couple of "welded " photos into my "Historic Site" Gallery, they arent meant to be proper exhibits in the sense of cultural/historical importance .I hope members would take a look and give critical feedback, I want to adopt the method to try and get long panoramic shots of certain of the wall sections around York.However if the images are too small for comfortable viewing ill try a different approach.
     
    The welds are now withdrawn -only theMultangular Tower shot remains in Eboracvm-more to be attempted in the spring.
     
    Off to York for a couple of days hoping to get some shots of the Medieval Walls and Roman remains
  10. Pertinax

    Link To Msn Blog

    By Pertinax,

    I think the link is working now -though the site is still under massive reconstruction and has been stripped back.
    Please be patient if you are interested in the "small objects" add-ons to the UNRV gallery reports, im working on it! Quite a few extra Vindolanda items are posted and some Eboracum ones also on the msn blog. As you will see the materia medica are replicated but will extend beyond the Roman domain. My passion for all things Japanese is also notable.
    Beer and assorted pleasurable consumables will link in later when I have additional items in Pantagathus's "Nectar " site.
    Sacred Beer part 2 coming soon!
  11. Pertinax

    Roman Herb Garden

    By Pertinax,

    My seeds have arrived today from the Nursery in Broadstairs . If all goes well-not too much rain in the spring-I should hope to replicate some of the features of a Romano-British Physic garden , and have some definitive photographs for the Roman Herbal Gallery by summer.
    We have Betony, the Celtic favourite for those given to "visions and dreams" (anti psychotic/nervine).
    Yarrow-the Roman Soldiers'Herb for the "wounds made by iron weapons".
    Woad-the Pictish and Brythonic choice for combat advertising (and a ready use wound salve) .
    Comfrey-the herb of Mercurius (sacred to travellers) for deep bruising and torn ligaments.
    Henbane-the Roman anaesthetic/pain killer.
    Foxglove-ancient cardiac tonic.
    Deadly Nightshade- beautiful but deadly.
    Borage-Celtiberian beer addittive for pre-combat use.
     
    The Yarrow and Borage I intend to add to homemade beers - it will be interesting to see what flavours they impart. Henbane -described as the "submerged Leviathan " of ancient fermentation I think I will avoid as an addittive.
  12. Pertinax
    Members will be aware of the "Roman World Herbal" gallery I have maintained for some time.In the Gallery are displayed plants known to have been used as painkillers, wound salves, abortifactants and foods, some of these plants have a recorded history from Egypt and Greece via Rome and Persia.Not all the plants are strictly Roman but many are known witihn the Roman world, so we have Borage and Mistletoe for example ,two very important Celtic herbs that the Romans must have known of and may well have used, especially given the role of Auxilliary troops from around the Empire.
    The chemical properties of the herbs have been investigated within our contemporary culture of scientific reductionism , many are still used or are mutilated and synthesised beyond the bounds of natural progression (how is asprin in any way superior to meadowsweet or white willow from which it is extracted if acetelyne poisoning is a downside to its use?).
    I have been asked to provide a bibilography for the study of Herb Medicine.Here are some suggested titles to give information on plant properties and to forewarn of the respect ,that the plant matrix, (as a host for an active medical core of healing chemicals) ,should be given.
     
    1.Firstly buy a well illustrated book
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0002200...ce&n=266239
     
    for Britain this is fine: then , go and find and photograph as many of these as you can!
    That takes a while
     
    2.Get a basic reference for active chemistry:
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0846410...ce&n=266239
    desk reference, -you will know if you are using the wrong stuff!
     
    3.Chemistry standard
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198503...ce&n=266239
    you need this to know what trace elements are kicking about.For example , mercury ,lead and cadmium are bad guys dont eat them: chromium , selenium and boron are here to help, but only in very small amounts.
     
    4.Chemical Structure
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0851998...ce&n=266239
     
    this is the reductive "why it does it, cos its built like this" book, very good.This explains who fits together to make nice molecules.
     
    5.Secret Teachings of Plants
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1591430...ce&n=266239
     
    the exact opposite of the above , holistic and emotional. Equally indispensable.You have to be able to accommodate both the last two titles in your brain without disquiet, as both are valid and useful.
     
    6.An atlas of plant ranges. If you cant find it you may live in Alaska and have very few Frankinsence trees, best to check.
     
    7.on Toxins
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198605...ce&n=266239
     
    because they are dangerous even if cute and green and flowery.
     
     
    from thence to specific Ancient medicine, browse Pliny , read Galen, thence Ibn Sina (I can find very little practical difference between Ibn Sinas 10thC Persian work and modern practical Herbalism, Hakim Chistis recent work is excellent http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0892814...e&n=266239) , browse Culpepper .If a person is serious about the work then the crucial schooloing is actually healing, for this you must start at basement level , fetching and carrying for a Herbalist. The biggest problem is the great number of people who do not wish to be well this may be a startling statement but it is true, Hakim Chisti re-iterates this for the Islamic world in the Avicenna commentary.
    Thats enough for now!
     
    I add this as regards conventional ie: chemical medicines and "care" (or lack of) in the toxin title cited above the simple lesson is "wash your hands" , so why do Doctors not do this?
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showto...amp;#entry30859
  13. Pertinax

    Galava (ambleside)

    By Pertinax,

    Here are a few images from an obscure, or perhaps overlooked, Fort . Some work was done after the First WW , but thats about it and we have few artefacts to look at In the present the remains of the fort are quite meagre and tucked away to the rear of a small park area in a major Lake District resort.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1438
    Ambleside is the head of the Lake (Windermere) , and it would seem that we have a Fort with granaries tha are conspicuously overlarge for its likely size.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1434
     
    The area is not noted for having been a major area of conflict as the Legions pushed north toward the Stanegate, as it has always (until recent centuries) been sparsely populated.
    Nowadays you cant move for tourists , in , on and around the lake itself.
     
    It would seem that we have some species of strategic supply depot or staging post here, the ease of waterborne transport along the length of Windermere from (possibly, the "lost" Fort at Urswick, which itself could have been water served from Deva (I suggest only!)) the south to allow a strategic stockpiling in this location.
     
    Certainly the foundation was of Flavian origin, later a Trajanic-Hadrianic rebuild was placed on a raised platform, one assumes with such close proximity to the largest open body of water in Britain flooding may have occured.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1437
     
    Glannaventa and Alavanna (previously blogged and photographed ) are its nearest neighbours. The short lived Mediobogdvm is not too far away either.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1435
     
    The veracity of the name , is as usual, not entirely clear -but everyone still calls it Galava!
    http://www.romanmap.com/htm/names/Ambleside.htm
  14. Pertinax
    The digging work at Vindolanda is an ongoing process.It must be remembered that the fort area has building remains from the Flavian period onwards, with continuous evidence of construction and rebuilding through a very active Severan usage onto the time of Constantine and beyond. So Flavius Cerealis' burning of the Vindolanda tablets is a very early episode in pre-Hadrianic years (97-105 AD). Five wooden forts and two stone ones occupied the site (in various positions ) until a wholesale rebuild in 213 for the incoming Fourth Cohort of Gauls,.
    My gallery images show the pre-hadrianic baths and a modern rebuild of the original turf wall as much of Hadrian's Wall was originally planned . Vindolanda sits about a half mile below (Stanegate road) whereas the Wall and Vercovicium are a half mile above the road. So Vindolanda is not on the Wall but nearby.
    We have images of the Severan occupation and later civilian ruins outside the fort perimeter .
    Notably we see new work on the site of one of the original Flavian Forts lying a little way to the SW of the later stone buildings. I also indicate the site of Flavius' bonfire.Other images are self explanatory, the sub-floor construction of heated rooms and the layout of granary foundations for ventilation and dryness.
    There is an image to show the relative position of the Forts and several of the Wall itself and the spectacular scenery.Vercovicium is a much more exposed site , quite what the Frisian auxiliaries thought of the wind in this area I cant imagine.
     
    The Wall itself has a long history of use, abandonment and re-occupation Salway is the best general academic contextual work (Oxford History of Roman Britain).The physical structure varied in material type and nature-in some remote spots-steel rigg (which I will show) the natural features alone are fearsome enough to deter assault. I did a short 5 mile walk on the day I took the shots -and it was no picnic!
     
    I have been fortunate to visit the Wall, Pompeii (and related sites) and Thebes. The graffiti at all three sites is the one thing that makes you root yourself in the past for a few moments, the Valley of the Kings was very dissapointing a treadmill of miserable, over heated tourists who looked like they knew they "should" be there but didnt know why-I saw Roman tourist graffiti and it was the most real thing about the whole experience. What an Empire-I havent had the good fortune to go to Leptis Magna or Palmyra-what distances they covered!
     
     
    ive posted a number of images to start, more to follow.Not everything I mention here has arrived on site yet.WE will also see some interesting "loaded dice" and re-produced fabrics and tools.
     
    I am aware that many members are non-brittanic , so if there is any confusion regarding locality I will post maps if required.
  15. Pertinax

    Skipton Castle

    By Pertinax,

    I finally managed to get some reasonable internal photos of the Conduit Court in Skipton Castle.The Court was the well spring for the Castle. Originally built in 1090 the Castle was massivley strengthened in 1310.In the War of the Roses this was a Lancastrian House (Red Rose).The Tudor wing (1536) is attached to the NE, and bore the brunt of unsympathetic internal Victorian "improvement".In the Civil War this was the last Castle to hold out for the King in the north.Somehow the place has survived as the most complete Medieval Castle in Britain despite seeing some fierce action.
     
    The Court is very atmospheric but the light is difficult and its tricky to get the ancient yew tree and the mellow colour of the stone ,these shots seem reasonable,but I think I can get better in summer. I did try to get a shot down through the castle privy-the drop is about 200 feet-but it didnt turn out well.( I just re-read that last sentence and realised I had made an unintentional bad pun-but ill leave it in ).
     
    The present Earl was there today and I was talking to him for a while before I realised who he was, otherwise the place was deserted-except for the tea lady.
     
    additional mote: what I havent been able to show yet is the northern elevation where the Castle towers over the river to its rear, the light was too contrasty to get a clean shot-you can see how bright it was ,but the shade was pitch black.
  16. Pertinax

    Synchronicity

    By Pertinax,

    Carl Jung wrote a piece on "acausal coincidence" ie: unrelated events prompting in the observer a feeling that greater forces are at play than his or her powers of logical deduction will enable him to properly interpret. That certainly happened today , Peter Heather invoked York Minster Crypt as a place redolent with historical atmosphere (and Vindolanda, Birdoswald and Tullie) -just as I was searching for photos of the Minster in relation to the Roman Fortress and the original ground levels in Eboracum . Northern Neil had kicked a thread off about the walls of the Colonia and its possible intergration into the medieval layout, hence my delving. Meanwhile I posted another item about the analysis of remains from an apparent mass execution in Eboracum (archaeology folder),possibly due to the very unpleasant Geta.
  17. Pertinax
    I am gratified and amused by the learned interest that my image and commentary on Cuckoopint herb has stirred. At first I had thought perhaps there was an urgent cultural need to understand the starching of Elizabethen costume ruffs, I now see that it may have been more related to my initial commentary on the seminal vessels .
     
    The glycosides in this plant are of unknown structure, the other main constituent is a group of acetylated mannans.Large doses administered for sore throats have caused death. Apparently hibernating bears like to eat quantities of the stuff to "open the gut due to its windy nature" before getting down to a new seasons foraging.
    But before you try and chop the root up to agglutinise your spermatazoa remember " it choppeth blistereth and maketh hands rough and rugged and withall smarting".
     
    Its other commen name by the way is Lords and Ladies-.
     
    My goodness I notice a further surge in erudite perusal since my main entry.
     
    Also Fratres I urgently petition you to support the thread of Favonius Cornelius on "Great Artifacts" and to view the gallery images of Pantagathus and the elegant coins of antiquity.
  18. Pertinax
    I have just returned from another photo recce on Hadrian's Wall . This time I moved from the Western extremity of Luguvallum (Carlisle) to meet up with the images already posted for Vindolanda and Vircovicium.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=436
    Bana is the first major survival to the east of Brampton (eight miles east of Carlisle). It is the present day museum of Birdoswald , housed in an old water mill attached to an austere victorian house. This is the only fort in britain to have a positivley identified training gymnasium (basilica exorcitatoria) for mock combat indoors, given the driving sleet in early April the use of such a facility is hardly surprising. As usual attempts have been made to identify site buildings and mark out the overall fort area. The museum is much smaller than Vindolanda with few exibits of note.
    I posted a shot of the site of Bana, http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=652
     
    hardly surprising that it was utilised given its elevation.
     
    I moved along to milecastle 41, the best preserved of all the milecastles.I will be adding shots of this soon.
    Camboglanna has no real excavated remains but is the site of the "Roman Army Museum" , again a reasonable museum but not on the scale of Vindolanda .Camboglanna links us to the Steel Rigg photos previously posted.The fort is unusual as having been the home of a Cohort of Syrian archers A Dacian and Tungrian Cohort are also attested.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=438
     
    Procolita lies a few miles East of Vircovicium but behind the Wall as opposed to on it. Only the Mithraic cult ruins survive. By the time I had photographed the cult ruins the hail was so bad I was forced to retreat to the car.The finding of the Mithraium is another accident of survival , in 1949 Britain had a very dry summer-the upper parts of the surviving walls showed above ground in the dessicated earth -nearly two millenia after this solemn building fell into ruin.
     
    Viggen is ,despite much other important work , fashioning a report format for the previous Vindolanda journey, once this is built I will endeavour to guide members through the various photographs in sequence.
    I acquired the Vindolanda "Band of brothers" book , and another on roman remains in NW Britain.
     
    Bulk upload of Madame Pertinax's Roman Forum pics-click my profile and head for my blog on msn
     
    (look for Gallery "Forum Romanii").
     
    A bulk file exists for Vindolanda as well showing many additional small scale exhibits
     
    Bana is in but unedited as yet, the Mithraic temple ruins are shown.
     
    Also my posting on the Brigantes brings some tribal context to this area.
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showto...t=0entry30946
  19. Pertinax

    A Roman Herbal

    By Pertinax,

    I was cross checking the contents of the "Roman Herbal Gallery" and I see that a fair amount of information has built up . For quick reference I am now adding a list of names versus main properties:
     
    Orchis-aphrodisiac/mucilage-(Roman amatory stimulant)
     
    Ruta graveolens (Rue)-antaphrodisiac/bitter (Roman "cold shoulder", stomach medicine)
     
    Absinthum (Wormwood))-anthelmintic/hallucogen (and to counteract Hemlock by the Greeks)
     
    Convolvulous (morning glory)-purgative/abortifactant
     
    Primula (Freya's Keys )(cowslip) -sedative/asthenic (possible Ligurian usage/certain Norse/Medieval)
     
    Digitalis (foxglove)-cardiac tonic/poison (early usage for cardiao insufficiency)
     
    Hyosccymaus (henbane)- anaesthetic/poison (Medicus herb) please note the henbane administered to Pullo after Vorenus rescues him.
     
    Conium (hemlock)-sedative/poison (greek usage of course/Roman anaesthesia)
     
    Atropa (belladonna)-narcotic/sedative -its milder cousin Mandrake was a Medicus herb (alleged to have poisoned the troops of Marcus Antonius during the Parthian Wars)
     
    Papaver (poppy)-narcotic/sedative (Medicus herb)
     
    Achillea (yarrow)-vulnery/wound salve (Medicus herb key Soldiers Herb )
     
    Viscum (mistletoe)-cardiac tonic/sedative/poison.(key sacred Druidic herb )
     
    Hypericum (St John's Wort) anti depressant/ urinary tonic ( Roman urinary herb)
     
    Passiflora-mild sedative (American provenance only)
     
    Althaea (mallow)-mucilage/expectorant (Roman cough lozenge and foodstuff)
     
    Lilium (Lily)- nice for chatting up the Girls ( Now and Then)
     
    Arum (cuckoopint)-aphrodisiac/starch (Roman starchy food and amatory stimulant )
     
    Ricin (castor bean)- anthelmintic/purge/nerve poison (key Egyptian herb-as an oily purge-they already used the peach kernel (cyanide) as a state poison, as the greeks used hemlock )
     
    Symphytum (comfrey)-wound salve/pulmonary health ( european alternative to mallow)
     
    Ekballium (squirting cucmber)-abortifactant (Roman birth control-both pre//post coital)
     
    Datura (stramonium) -respiratory aid/hallucogen/narcotic (widespread Early Med. use)
     
    Pyrus (Rowan)- gargle (sacred herb of Greek Mythology and secret beer brewing ingredient of the Welsh )
     
    Stachys (Lambs Ears) wound dressing-literally the leaf itself (celtiberian key herb)
     
    Alchemilla (lady's mantle) astringent , styptic ( brigantian range)
  20. Pertinax

    Hadrian's Wall

    By Pertinax,

    I am waiting for some favourable weather before going on photo recce to the more photogenic parts of the wall. I am presently re-reading Sawley's "Oxford History of Roman Britain", and this gives a good broad brush picture of the military and political activities leading to the construction/modification of the wall. The book strongly conveys the idea that one can consider the areas to the south of the wall being offered "shelter" by the wall to prevent unwholesome combinations of tribes ( internally within the Brigantes I wish to emphasise , though not excluding others as the Brigantes seemed to be present almost into Caledonii territory) , whilst "natural" romanisation progressed healthily.The whole tone of this scholarly work leaves no doubt that although Britain was a fabulous wild frontier it had , by trade ( and by the Roman destruction of the Venetii) inoxerably drawn itself into the outer framework of the Empire even if the very consumers of those goods opposed Rome.An interesting side issue is the consturction of fortifications and the concentration of personnel for a possible Hibernian campaign.
    Glannaventa (Ravenglass) of which you may find photos in my "historical sites" gallery is strictly the western end of the fortifications considerd as a functioning entity.Lugovallium (Carlisle) is the modern western signifier of the built wall , (and was the key site for senior military presence on the wall).A chain of defences and forts connected these two localities.
    The advance to the Antonine Wall is a very subtle and interesting change, indeed this activity displays the shrewd nature of the eponymous Emperor.That occupation of the two walls (and the Gask Ridge) ebbed and flowed thereafter seems more related to the fortunes of the Empire and the position of the incumbent Emperor.This is not to denigrate any of Hadrian's work, though we see how "experimental" the layout work was in its earlier forms .
    The Vindolanda tablets , which I am also reading, are truly fascinating as they give an idea of the extreme normality of daily garrison life and logistical activity, a direct insight into the excellent communication skills of the time and the quality of produce consumed by ordinary rankers.
    Guy de la Bedoyere's "History and Guide " is the other useful book to read, this is in essence where to walk and what you will see on the way.
    Bedoyere makes the very telling point that the Wall was a forgotten entity until the mid 1840s -a millenium and a half of anonimity-just imagine if our cities, works and roads dissapear under such a fog of unknowing-though such is the fate of man.
    I might try a brief trip to Carlisle and put up some shots of the Castle and associated earlier items soon.
     
    Sawley by the way very scholarly but a little dry, you can hear the thoughts of a learned man processing carefully to the page.
     
    My Roman Frontier Map in the Gallery refers.(Miscellenia album). This has some additional notes.
  21. Pertinax

    Hadrian's Wall Report

    By Pertinax,

    The akwardness of spanning from thread to blog to gallery has been solved by Viggen's suggestion of a "report" form for the Wall visit-he himself has an excellent report on a visit to Aguntum in the Roman Culture Section .
    Sub divided galleries can be used so that areas of interest can be approached more easily than a horizontal trawl through the gallery area. So I aim to produce a "central" hadrians wall gallery and add individual sites as and when the opportunity arises . I envisage a separate "small items" / inscriptions gallery .
    Ayt present I am loading more images in the Gallery area prior to sorting.
  22. Pertinax
    As Viggen strives to piece together my "report" galleries for the Wall and Vindolanda , I hope to visit Mediobogdum a sensationally remote fortlet in the heart of the Lake District. Alavana (and its museum) are also on my shopping list. Not much remains of the turf defence line into the Solway sands , but they were an integral part of the western arm of the Wall defence system with Glannaventa as the supply port.As usual if the weather holds, Mediobogdum in particular is spectacularly situated and may yield some good images.
    The pennine forts (in Brigantia-Brittannia Inferior) were critical in maintaining rear echelon security-but fell out of use for long periods till Severan times and late period re-occupation by Constantine.Incidents of suggested insurrection have yielded fire damage at various localities, but it is difficult to say if this is actual assault or "vandalism".Roman Britain was very stable whilst Gaul was in turmoil , and some suggest a flight of established ,prosperous citizens to Brittannia (Salway -Roman Britain, as always dry but scrupulously even handed).
     
    The fort was built between 120 -138 AD and we know that an Illyrian Vexillation was here.
  24. Pertinax

    Sacred Beer

    By Pertinax,

    part ye thirdde
     
    Gruit, now here is a thing ,I find that the natural range of the three main semi-psychotropic ingredients of Gruit seems to overlap quite remarkably with the territory of the Brigantes-especially the coastal areas .Sweet Gale (Myrica gale) also called bog myrtle ,is the most elusive nowadays ,yet here I am quite close to its restircted range
    Yarrow (see my gallery and herbal notes in the blog-the soldiers herb par excellence ) is adittive number two,and wild rosemary is the third.
    Gruit producers had individual formulae and tweaked add-ons (ginger, juniper,aniseed etc).
    Now gruit is highly intoxicating,narcotic and very aphrodesiacal-enhancing sexual activity and leading to a euphoric state. So far so good you may say. Gruit was the main ale of Europe for 700 years and hops were unknown as an addittive, the Holy Catholic Church was the official Monopoliser of the production of gruit.
    So we se a splendid religious congruity betwen the scriptural exhortation to multiply fruitfully over the earth and the provision of a useful popular drinkable supplement to enhance this laudable aim.
    The rise of Protestantism is the rise of the hop- indeed a flavoursome and useful plant , but alas no servant of Priapus. Indeed the sobriety of Luther is paralleled by the somnolence of the hopped beer drinker, and of course the destruction of a rival creeds fund raising mainstay.
    Pantagathus has linked in an article on his site http://www.thenectarofgods.com/index.asp and you can check Buhners essay via a second link.
     
    Bremetenacum Veterenorium was therefore a very well sited Roman settlement if local beer was available to the Sarmatian veterans...
  25. Pertinax
    A completely unforseen stroke of luck saw me with a day for selfish recreation, excellent weather and a very fast car.Dea Fortuna and Mercurius will recieve Libation.
     
    I offer you therefore Cilvrinum Fort (Chesters) , I have now pushed further east beyond Vindolanda toward Wallsend ( Segedunum). The weather was glorious, the museum of artefacts is crammed with retrieved inscriptions/altars and the fort bathhouse must have one of the best rustic views in the Empire.
     
    http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=723
     
    Attested units -First Cohort Vangiones, ("The Augustan Wing" becasue of their virtue), the First Cohort Dalmatae , and VI Pia Fidelis (as builders, probably not the garrisson) and The Second Asturians (from Bremetenaccum).
    The Fort was built by order of Hadrian and continued in active use especially during the campaigns of Severus.I must explain it was a Hadrianic pre-wall fort (by a short head) that came to be built into the wall.This particular fort is considered to be the best preserved Cavalry fort in existence.
     
    The upload is so huge from this visit that I will have to place most offsite here:
     
    http://spaces.msn.com/triclinium/
    Fortunately I shot the information labels attached to the altars and votive items so saving myself caption work.
     
    I will create a Cilvrinum dedicated gallery on the MSN blog , but look out for new items under "Bana", they are easy to spot-the sun is shining .
     
    I also have shots of the turrets to the West of Bana and updated photos from the Mithraic Temple at Procolita, which if you recall I was driven from by freezing hail.I was struck how very close together the turrets are, the whole barrier must have been alive with keen eyes watching out for movement.Check the misc Roman on msn for the turrets and Mithraium.
     
    and you may be asking, how did the Wall continue over the River at the foot of the fort site? A fortified bridge , rebuilt several times.I should add that the civilian vicus here was quite substantial, I assume the River crossing made this a focal point for movement.
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