Roman Sites

@romansites

Exploring sites and museums throughout the Roman world. All photos (except reposts) are my own. Based in Dorset, UK. Blog at

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Roman Sites@romansites· 3d

Not many mosaics though. This is one of the small fragments.

Roman Sites@romansites· 4d

Tiny bronze statuette of a wild boar (1st-3rd cent CE) in the excellent site museum at Jublains, Mayenne, France. #RomanSiteSaturday

Roman Sites@romansites· 11d

It's not one of Lisbon's better-known tourist sites, but the remains of the theatre (1st century CE) of the Roman city of Felicitas Iulia Olisipo, built into the hillside, are worth a visit. Nice museum too. 📷my own 2018 #RomanSiteSaturday #RomanSites

Roman Sites@romansites· 21d

Inscription to Sol Invictus at Corbridge near #HadriansWall. Dedicated by a detachment of the VI Legion under Sextus Calpurnius Agricola, governor of Britannia 162-168 CE. First line defaced c. 193 CE. Details in ALT text. 📷my own 2012 #RomanBritain (Repost with corrected dates).

Although not a full legionary fortress, Corbridge (Coria), an important town and supply base just south of Hadrian's Wall, hosted a temporary detachment (vexillatio) from one or two legions - including the VI Legion Victrix Pia Fidelis (Victorious, Loyal, Faithful).

The text reads:
SOLI‣INVICTO (defaced)
VEXILLATIO
LEG‣VI‣VIC‣P‣F‣F‣
SVB‣CVRA‣SEX‣
CALPVRN͡I‣AGRICO
LAE‣LEG‣AVG‣PR‣PR

Translation (from RIB 1137) reads:

To the Invincible Sun-god a detachment of the Sixth Legion Victrix Pia Fidelis set this up under the charge of Sextus Calpurnius Agricola, emperor’s propraetorian legate.

Roman Sites@romansites· 23d

Labyrinth mosaic (1st-3rd cent CE) nicely displayed with wine and olive oil amphoras at the Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, South Wales. 📷my own 2024 #MosaicMonday #RomanBritain #RomanSites

Roman Sites@romansites· 26d

Excellent video. Couldn’t agree more with your thoughts on Pompeii: superb site, but Ostia is so much more relaxed. The Romans seem a bit closer there. (Not sure that’s a good thing, mind.)

Roman Sites@romansites· 26d

Originally found at Brigetio Roman Fort on the Danube (Hungary), this superb legionary helmet has pride of place at the National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Wales. Date: early 1st century AD. 📷my own 2024 #FindsFriday #RomanSites #RomanArchaeology #RomanBritain

Roman legionary helmet made from iron in a museum display case. Design features include a sloping neck-guard at the rear, iron hinged cheek-pieces at the sides and a strengthened projecting section above the face.

Roman Sites@romansites· Jul 13

This geometric mosaic was found at Silchester Roman town (Calleva Atrebatum) Hampshire, UK in a building thought at the time to be a church - an assumption now being challenged. Reading Museum 2nd - 3rd cent. AD 📷my own 2026 #MosaicMonday #RomanBritain #Archaeology

Roman Sites@romansites· Jul 11

Silchester Roman Town (Calleva Atrebatum) was built on the site of an Iron Age settlement (oppidum). Some of the boundary ditches from that settlement can still be seen outside the Roman town walls. #RomanSiteSaturday #Archaeology #RomanBritain 📷my own 2026

Silchester, Hampshire, UK - Roman town wall near the south gate.

Boundary ditch of the Iron Age settlement (oppidum) near the car park at Silchester, Hampshire, UK.

Roman Sites@romansites· Jul 6

Better known for its frescoes, the church of St Maria Antiqua in the Forum in Rome has an unusual floor with a mix of mosaic and opus sectile elements. The floor possibly dates to the 7th century AD, but the building's original fabric is mostly 1st century AD. #MosaicMonday 📷 my own 2026

Roman Sites@romansites· Jul 5

The stags in Applecross are very used to visitors!

Roman Sites@romansites· Jul 5

The one at the Baths of Caracalla was closed when I visited too. Here's the Mithraeum of Menander from Ostia. It's not that easy to locate, though.

Roman Sites@romansites· Jul 4

The London Mithraeum is imaginatively displayed under the @bloomberg.com HQ. Discovered in 1954, the remains have been reconstructed in the present location, nearer to its original Walbrook site. Dated to the mid 3rd century AD. 📷 my own 2025 #RomanSiteSaturday

Roman Sites@romansites· Jul 3

For #FrescoFriday here is an Antonine period (2nd cent. AD) charioteer from Ostia's House of the Charioteers (naturally!) He is a member of the Greens (one of the big teams of the day), with a victory crown and palm stem. 📷my own 2026 #RomanSites

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 29

This magnificently detailed fragment of an early Byzantine mosaic (possibly from Syria) shows a church with towers. Now in the Benaki Museum, Athens. c. 5th - 6th cent. 📷 my own 2022 #MosaicMonday

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 22

This intricate 3rd century mosaic, almost resembling a modern carpet, was found at a villa in Bergheim, Alsace, France. Possibly made by craftsmen from Trier, it is now in the Musee Unterlinden in Colmar. 📷my own 2018 #MosaicMonday #RomanArchaeology #RomanSites

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 17

This stele doesn't tell us much about Paternianus and Divixtus, but it's nice to see these two toga-clad, bearded blokes each clutching what I'd like to think are tankards. Musee Unterlinden, Colmar, France (100-200 AD) 📷my own 2018 #ReliefWednesday #RomanArchaeology #RomanSites

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 16

The information-packed inscription by the main road into Ostia tells us that this is the tomb of C. Domitius Fabius Hermogenes. He held various civic and religious roles in the town, but must have died early as he was buried by his parents. (Text in ALT) #TombTuesday #EpigraphyTuesday 📷my own 2026

Full text of inscription:
C(aio) Domitio L(uci) f(ilio) / Pal(atina) Fabio / Hermogeni / eq(uiti) Romano / scriba aedil(ium) curul(ium) / decurioni adlecto / flamini divi Hadriani / huic primo et soli / in sacerdotio / publice ludos scaenicos / et munus familiae gladiator(iae) / dedit ob honorem / huius flaminis / et [a]edilicio honore / functo / decurionib(us) et corpor(i) / fabr(um) tignuar(iorum) Ostiens(ium) / epulum dedit / huic ordo splendidiss(imus) / coloniae Ostiens(ium) / funus publicum / statuam equestrem / in foro ponendam / et locum sepulturae / decrevit / L(ucius) Fabius Sp(urii) f(ilius) Eutychus et Artoria / parentes / filio piissimo

Translation:
To Caius Domitius Fabius Hermogenes, son of Lucius, of the Palatine voting tribe, Roman knight, clerk of the curule aediles, adlected decurion, flamen of the deified Hadrian. To him, first and alone in this priesthood, he gave public theatrical games and a gladiatorial show at his own expense on the occasion of honoring this flamen. And having fulfilled the office of aedile, he gave banquets to the decurions and to the guild of woodworkers of Ostia. The most splendid town council of the colony of Ostia decreed for him a public funeral, an equestrian statue to be placed in the forum, and a burial plot. Lucius Fabius Eutychus, son of Spurius, and Artoria, his parents, [made this] for their most devoted son.

Reference: CIL XIV, 4642

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 15

For #MosaicMonday an unusual hexagonal mosaic from the 3rd-4th cent Durley Hill villa, Somerset, UK. Now on the wall of Keynsham library, which also has a great mosaic of mythological scenes (Europa and the bull etc) sadly displayed under murky glazing in the floor. 📷my own 2026 #RomanBritain

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 11

The east gate at Birdoswald is the best preserved of the Hadrian's Wall forts, and would have included two arched gateways. Excavations at Birdoswald have shown evidence of continued occupation into the 5th century. 📷 my own 2013 #RomanFortThursday #RomanBritain #history #archaeology

Birdoswald Roman Fort - remains of east gate

Hadrian's Wall east of Birdoswald Roman Fort.

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 9

Silver bust of the stern-looking, and short reigning, Emperor Galba, possibly from a legionary standard (AD 68-9). Found in Herculaneum, Italy. 📷 my own 2024 (at the excellent British Museum Legion exhibition). #EmperorOfRome #RomanArchaeology

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 8

When I saw that in Winchester I didn't think it was a dolphin. No dorsal fin (no fins at all, actually), a long winding body and a tail with three (not two) lobes. To me, it looks more like a mythical sea creature - a smaller version of the ones in the Baths of Neptune at Ostia, perhaps?

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 6

Although added to in later times, several sections of Exeter's town walls are substantially Roman (probably 3rd cent). One of the best sections is by the inner ring road at Quay Lane. The site of the south gate is marked in the pavement nearby. 📷 my own 2025 #RomanSiteSaturday #RomanBritain

Exeter Town Wall at Quay Lane - mostly Roman fabric (3rd cent.). Exeter, Devon, UK.

The footprint of one of the towers from Exeter's south gate is marked by decorative paving. South Street, Exeter, Devon, UK.

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 5

Exploring Dorchester's Roman townhouse. New blog at visiting-roman-sites.blogspot.com #RomanBritain #RomanArchaeology #Dorset

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 4

From Roman invasion beachhead to late empire coastal defensive site, Richborough (Kent, England) spans the age of #RomanBritain. The foreground ditches and wall are mid and late 3rd century respectively. 📷 my own 2023 #RomanFortThursday

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 3

Into the Senate House (Curia) in Rome's Forum for #ReliefWednesday where one side of the plutei (balustrades) show the (now headless) emperor addressing a crowd from the Rostra. Possibly Trajan c. 120 AD, with the Temple of Castor behind. 📷 my own 2026 #RomanSites

Roman Sites@romansites· Jun 1

Detail of Medusa looking snaky from a larger mosaic (3rd-4th cent. AD) at Bignor villa, West Sussex, England. 📷my own 2020 #MosaicMonday

Roman Sites@romansites· May 30

Lurking in the SE corner of Housesteads fort on #HadriansWall are some fantastic latrines (2nd cent. AD). 📷 my own 2021 #RomanSitesSaturday #RomanBritain

Roman Sites@romansites· May 29

Here's Bacchus for #FrescoFriday. Probably dating from the 2nd cent. AD, this decoration was in a dwelling demolished to make way for the Baths of Caracalla, Rome - where it's now on display. 📷 my own 2026 #RomanSites

Roman Sites@romansites· May 28

Off to Portchester, Hampshire, UK for #RomanFortThursday. These are the walls of the late 3rd cent. Roman 'Saxon Shore Fort', that later became the perimeter of a medieval castle. Still a dominant presence on the shore of Portsmouth Harbour. 📷my own 2010 #RomanArchaeology