Features
Meet the Emperor after whom the Wall is named, learn all about the lives of soldiers stationed on the Wall, and take a walking tour along a section of it with ICONS' own Peter Chrisp
Emperor Hadrian
Hadrian was one of the most hard-working, intelligent and talented rulers in history. A tireless traveller, who visited more parts of the Roman empire than any other emperor, he was also an architect, painter, musician and poet.
Life in a Fort
We can learn a lot about the daily life of the soldiers who lived on Hadrian's Wall by looking at the ruined forts. The best preserved one is Housesteads, which the Romans called Vercovicium ("the place of able fighters"). It was home to around 1,000 infantrymen who came from Tungria, in what is now southern Belgium.
Gods of Hadrian's Wall
The people living along Hadrian's Wall worshipped a bewildering variety of gods. Alongside well-known Roman ones, such as Jupiter and Mars, there were native gods and foreign ones, introduced by soldiers and merchants from other parts of the empire. Romans were always willing to welcome new gods into their religion. They believed that the more gods their empire had to protect it, the stronger it would be.
People of the Wall
Very few of the ''Romans'' who lived along Hadrian's Wall were from Rome itself, or even Italy. Like their Emperor Hadrian, who was a Spaniard, they came from many different lands. Surviving inscriptions show that they included Germans, Spaniards, Gauls, Africans, Syrians, Arabians and people from Dacia (modern Romania).
Walking Hadrian's Wall
There's no better way to experience Hadrian's Wall than to walk it. Walkers usually start from the east and head west, following the route of the original Roman builders. Walking westwards means that the scenery continually improves, but the disadvantage is that you are heading straight into the prevailing wind. In 1999, Peter Chrisp, from the ICONS team, walked the middle section of the wall with partner Lisa, and friends, Chris and Judy. This is his diary.
The Changing Wall – Later History
There is no denying that Hadrian's Wall was a huge achievement. But by the time the Roman Empire fell in the 5th century AD, it was mainly a disused ruin. It wasn’t just the decline of the Empire, however, that led to the fall of the wall…
Interview: Vindolanda's Robin Birley
Just a few miles south of Hadrian’s Wall is the Roman fort of Vindolanda. It has become famous in the 20th century for the remarkable discoveries its excavations have turned up, including writing tablets that give a unique insight into life in a fort in Roman Britain. Excavations at Vindolanda continue today. ICONS spoke to Robin Birley, director of excavations.
Hadrian's Wall: An Introduction
So, what is Hadrian’s Wall? English Heritage guide Dr Brian Posner braved a rather blustery day to explain things to the ICONS team.
