Latest news with #Boudica
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gladiators brought to life in new exhibition
A touring exhibition exploring the world of Roman gladiators has opened in Northamptonshire. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery is hosting Gladiators of Britain, which offers insight into the gladiators who lived in the county and the wider country. Local finds included two Nene Valley vessels depicting gladiators, fragments of an engraved glass from a Roman villa near Nether Heyford, and a clasp knife discovered in Piddington. Jill Birrell, curator at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery, said: "[The items] show us the Romans who did live here engaged in spectacle culture... they made objects that have gladiators depicted on them and bought them, used them and lost them in the county." Gladiators are traditionally associated with arenas like the Colosseum in Rome, but many fights took place across Britain. There was no amphitheatre in Northamptonshire, with the closest being at St Albans - formerly known as Verulamium. There were 25 artefacts in the exhibition, including the Hawkedon Helmet - the only confirmed piece of gladiatorial armour from Roman Britain. It was possibly plundered from Colchester - known then as Camulodunum - during Boudica's rebellion of AD60. According to the British Museum, the heavy bronze helmet originally had a tinned surface, and the wearer's face would have been encased in a hinged mask with eye guards. Another key exhibit is the Colchester Vase from AD175, discovered in a Roman-era grave in 1853. Anna Willi, the curator for ancient Mediterranean life at the British Museum, added: "There are misconceptions about gladiatorial fights... we are trying to dispel some of these myths. "For example, there were rules to the fights, there were umpires, and people didn't always fight to the death. In fact, a bout would last around 15 minutes because a dead gladiator was much more expensive than a wounded one that could fight more." Gladiators of Britain is at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery until 7 September. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. The real gladiators of Britain revealed Vote to decide gallery's 100th local object Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
Telegraph
17-04-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Drought left Britain too hot to handle for the Romans
Roman rule in Britain was scuppered by three years of drought that led to rebellion and invasion, new tree-ring data suggests. In 367 AD, tribes including the Picts, Scotti and Saxons banded together in a co-ordinated attack on Roman Britain which has been dubbed the Barbarian Conspiracy. Now researchers believe that the invaders took advantage of famine and societal breakdown, caused by an extreme period of drought, to inflict crushing blows on weakened Roman defences. The University of Cambridge used oak tree-ring records to reconstruct temperature and precipitation levels in Britain during the Barbarian Conspiracy and found evidence of severe summer droughts in 364, 365 and 366 AD. Charles Norman, a doctoral student from Cambridge's Department of Geography, said: 'We don't have much archaeological evidence for the 'Barbarian Conspiracy'. 'Written accounts from the period give some background, but our findings provide an explanation for the catalyst of this major event.' The Barbarian Conspiracy was one of the most severe threats to Rome's hold on Britain since the revolt led by Boudica three centuries earlier. Part of the garrison on Hadrian's Wall rebelled and allowed the Picts to attack the Roman province by land and sea. Simultaneously, the Scotti invaded western Britain from modern-day Ireland and Saxons, from the continent, landed in the south. During the unrest, senior Roman commanders were captured or killed, and some soldiers reportedly deserted and joined the invaders. It took two years for generals dispatched by Valentinian I, Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, to restore order, but some historians argue that the province never fully recovered. Roman rule collapsed some 40 years later around 410AD. Britain was in the 'utmost conditions of famine' The new research shows that Britain experienced an exceptional sequence of remarkably dry summers from 364 to 366 AD where rainfall nearly halved. Roman Britain's main produce were crops, such as spelt wheat and six-row barley, which were vulnerable to early summer droughts. Accounts written at the time corroborate these drought-driven grain deficits. By 367 AD, Ammianus Marcellinus, a Roman chronicler, described the population of Britain as in the 'utmost conditions of famine'. Prof Ulf Büntgen, from Cambridge's Department of Geography, said: 'Three consecutive droughts would have had a devastating impact on the productivity of Roman Britain's most important agricultural region. 'As Roman writers tell us, this resulted in food shortages with all of the destabilising societal effects this brings.' Roman soldiers were partly paid in grain so a shortage is likely to have contributed to desertions in this period and a weakening of the army in Britain. The experts believe the reduced grain supply to Hadrian's Wall provides a plausible motive for the rebellion there which allowed the Picts into northern Britain. The researchers argue that military and societal breakdown in Roman Britain provided an ideal opportunity for peripheral tribes to invade the province en masse with the intention of raiding rather than conquest. Link between climate and conflict The researchers also expanded their climate-conflict analysis to the entire Roman Empire for the period 350 to 476 AD. They reconstructed the climate conditions immediately before and after 106 battles, finding that a statistically significant number of battles were fought following dry years. Tatiana Bebchuk, also from Cambridge's Department of Geography, said: 'The relationship between climate and conflict is becoming increasingly clear in our own time so these findings aren't just important for historians. 'Extreme climate conditions lead to hunger, which can lead to societal challenges, which eventually lead to outright conflict.'
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Drought left Britain too hot to handle for the Romans
Roman rule in Britain was scuppered by three years of drought that led to rebellion and invasion, new tree-ring data suggests. In 367 AD, tribes including the Picts, Scotti and Saxons banded together in a co-ordinated attack on Roman Britain which has been dubbed the Barbarian Conspiracy. Now researchers believe that the invaders took advantage of famine and societal breakdown, caused by an extreme period of drought, to inflict crushing blows on weakened Roman defences. The University of Cambridge used oak tree-ring records to reconstruct temperature and precipitation levels in Britain during the Barbarian Conspiracy and found evidence of severe summer droughts in 364, 365 and 366 AD. Charles Norman, a doctoral student from Cambridge's Department of Geography, said: 'We don't have much archaeological evidence for the 'Barbarian Conspiracy'. 'Written accounts from the period give some background, but our findings provide an explanation for the catalyst of this major event.' The Barbarian Conspiracy was one of the most severe threats to Rome's hold on Britain since the revolt led by Boudica three centuries earlier. Part of the garrison on Hadrian's Wall rebelled and allowed the Picts to attack the Roman province by land and sea. Simultaneously, the Scotti invaded western Britain from modern-day Ireland and Saxons, from the continent, landed in the south. During the unrest, senior Roman commanders were captured or killed, and some soldiers reportedly deserted and joined the invaders. It took two years for generals dispatched by Valentinian I, Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, to restore order, but some historians argue that the province never fully recovered. Roman rule collapsed some 40 years later around 410AD. The new research shows that Britain experienced an exceptional sequence of remarkably dry summers from 364 to 366 AD where rainfall nearly halved. Roman Britain's main produce were crops, such as spelt wheat and six-row barley, which were vulnerable to early summer droughts. Accounts written at the time corroborate these drought-driven grain deficits. By 367 AD, Ammianus Marcellinus, a Roman chronicler, described the population of Britain as in the 'utmost conditions of famine'. Prof Ulf Büntgen, from Cambridge's Department of Geography, said: 'Three consecutive droughts would have had a devastating impact on the productivity of Roman Britain's most important agricultural region. 'As Roman writers tell us, this resulted in food shortages with all of the destabilising societal effects this brings.' Roman soldiers were partly paid in grain so a shortage is likely to have contributed to desertions in this period and a weakening of the army in Britain. The experts believe the reduced grain supply to Hadrian's Wall provides a plausible motive for the rebellion there which allowed the Picts into northern Britain. The researchers argue that military and societal breakdown in Roman Britain provided an ideal opportunity for peripheral tribes to invade the province en masse with the intention of raiding rather than conquest. The researchers also expanded their climate-conflict analysis to the entire Roman Empire for the period 350 to 476 AD. They reconstructed the climate conditions immediately before and after 106 battles, finding that a statistically significant number of battles were fought following dry years. Tatiana Bebchuk, also from Cambridge's Department of Geography, said: 'The relationship between climate and conflict is becoming increasingly clear in our own time so these findings aren't just important for historians. 'Extreme climate conditions lead to hunger, which can lead to societal challenges, which eventually lead to outright conflict.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
BBC News
07-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peregrine falcon eggs smashed in St Albans Cathedral live stream
A live stream of a peregrine falcon nest on top of a cathedral has been taken offline after reports the birds' eggs were deliberately birds, Alban and Boudica, first nested on the roof of St Albans Cathedral in 2022 and a popular online video stream was launched the following about 10:30 BST the feed was shut down after an individual was seen walking across the nest destroying the eggs. The Very Revd Jo Kelly Moore, the Dean of St Albans, said: "We are so desperately sad at the harm done to eggs in our peregrine falcon nest here in the tower at St Albans Cathedral." Hertfordshire Police said it was investigating the live camera feed is a project run by St Albans Cathedral in partnership with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife a post on Facebook the cathedral said: "We are currently working with the Rural Operational Support Team at Hertfordshire Constabulary, and a person is assisting the police with their inquiries. "The live cam will remain offline until further notice." Last year 519,882 people viewed the live feed, the most popular day was 9 May when 12,598 tuned in to see three newly hatched chicks.A BBC Three Counties Radio listener named Beverley told presenter Roberto Perrone that she "felt sick" as she watched the incident happen on the live recalled: "The female bird was sitting on the egg and all of a sudden there was a noise that spooked her, it sounded like a door opening."Then I saw a man's leg enter in front of the camera. He stood there for 30 or 40 seconds before literally walking across - he didn't stamp but he stepped on the eggs and just kept walking." Peregrine falcons remain loyal to their nest site, which means the cathedral is now an established breeding year the pair had laid three eggs in the shingle nesting tray which replicates their natural clifftop nesting Very Revd Jo Kelly Moore said: "We are very grateful for the support offered at this time to resolve what has taken place."Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust has also been approached for comment. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
20-02-2025
- BBC News
Colchester Castle receives £1.3m for 'urgent' repairs
A castle that boasts the largest Norman keep in Europe has received nearly £1.3m for urgent to upgrade Colchester Castle's drainage system and fix issues caused by water leakage is due to start in the coming investment is part of the government's £270m Arts Everywhere Fund, which aims to boost growth by improving heritage and cultural year the Grade I listed landmark had 83,000 visitors, including 20,000 schoolchildren, and is to remain open during the works. The castle was built in the 1070s upon the historic foundations of the Temple of Claudius, which was decimated during Boudica's uprising against the Labour MP Pam Cox said: "The funding will not only address the urgent drainage issues but also ensure that the castle remains a cherished landmark for residents and visitors alike."Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said investment in the arts and cultural venues was vital. "They are the building blocks of our world-leading creative industries and make a huge contribution towards boosting growth and breaking down barriers to opportunities for young people to learn the creative skills they need to succeed," she announcement includes a pot of money worth £120m, which will be available to 17 major institutions such as the British Museum, National Gallery and National Museums the package has been criticised for supporting "traditional and heritage culture" at the expense of contemporary facilities. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
