It is AD 130. Rome is the dazzling heart of a vast empire and Hadrian its most complex and compelling ruler. Faraway Britannia is one of the Romans' most troublesome provinces: here the sun is seldom seen and 'the atmosphere in the country is always gloomy'.
What awaits the traveller to Britannia? How will you get there? What do you need to pack? What language will you speak? How does London compare to Rome? Are there any tourist attractions? And what dangers lurk behind Hadrian's new Wall?
Combining an extensive range of Greek and Latin sources with a sound understanding of archaeology, Bronwen Riley describes an epic journey from Rome to Hadrian's Wall at Britannia's – and the empire's – northwestern frontier. In this strikingly original snapshot of Roman Britain, she brings vividly to life the smells, sounds, colours and textures of travel in the second century AD.
Introduction: Evoking the Past
Chapter 1. Rome, Heart of Empire
Chapter 2. Setting Sail from Ostia
Chapter 3. Through Gaul to Ocean
Chapter 4. Arrival in Britannia
Chapter 5. London, Seat of Power
Chapter 6. Westwards to Silchester
Chapter 7. Bath, a Tourist Hotspot
Chapter 8. The Fortress and Amphitheatre at Caerleon
Chapter 9. A New Forum at Wroxeter, Capital of Cattle Country
Postscript: Beyond AD 130: People, Politics and Places
Checklist of Latin and English Place Names