Wiki Categories: Map Features

Temple of Isis at Philae

  • The Temple of Isis was erected on Philae Island in the Nile by the Pharoah Nectanebo I (c.370 BCE). Other Gods were worshipped here, such as Hathor. The Romans also continued adding Monuments, including Trajan's Kiosk.
  • The Temple visible today, was built by the Greek Ptolemies in third century BCE. It has now been moved to Agilkia Island after the Aswan Dam was completed.

Description

  • The Temple of Isis was built in the Ancient Egyptian style and decorated inside with Hieroglyphs depicting scenes with Osiris and Isis. Both priests and priestesses lived in the temple to conduct daily worship, and take care of Pilgrims.
  • Despite the Edict of Thessalonica issued by Theodosius in 380 CE, ending the worship of the Ancient Egyptian Religion and the use of Hieroglyphics, the Temple continued with its own priesthood acting as a place of worship and preserving the Hieroglyphic tradition until the time of Justinian (527-565 CE). It was the last Temple of Isis to survive from the Classical World.

Philae Island

  • Philae is the larger of two islands on the river Nile in Egypt, located just before the First Cataract.
  • Philae has steep sides and was surrounded by a defensive wall at the top.
  • Bigeh is the smaller island, and was considered to be the burial place of Osiris. Pilgrims visited the island to see his tomb.

Pilgrims

  • Pilgrims made the journey up the Nile to worship at Philae, throughout the Classical antiquity. After the Ancient Egyptians, came the Greeks, followed by the Romans. The Nubians also came upriver to worship at the Temple.
  • Philae Island was a tourist destination for Roman Pilgrims to see the Temples on the Roman Grand Tour.
  • One Roman left Graffiti on the wall of the Temple of Isis at Philae Island that states: ‘I.L. Trebonius Oricula was here’.

Garrison

  • There was also a protective garrison on the island, as it was the last defensive frontier with Nubia.
  • The Island was a warehouse for trade between Egypt and Nubia. The Goods from Nubia were stored here and also at Syene, for onward transfer to Memphis, or in the opposite direction to Meroe in Nubia.

 

Temple of Isis at Philae (now on Agilkia Island)

Trajan’s Parthian War

  • The Emperor Trajan made careful preparations to invade Parthia between 111-114 CE.
  • In 115 CE, he invaded and captured the Parthian capital, Ctesiphon and added Mesopotamia as a Roman Province. This expanded the Roman Empire to its greatest extent in its history.

The Reason for the War

Preparations for the War with Parthia (111-114 CE)

  • Letters between Pliny the Younger and Trajan show that Trajan had already been preparing and provisioning ten Legions in the East as early as 111 CE, although no new Legions were created for this War.
  • In 112 CE he promoted the future Emperor, Hadrian, Commander in the East, based at Antioch in Syria.
  • For 50 years the Roman and Parthian Empires had shared appointing the Kings of Armenia.
  • In 113 CE, when Parthia didn’t consult Trajan, and appointed their own choice of King, Trajan declared War.
  • This was to make Trajan, the first Roman Emperor to invade Parthia.

The Invasion of Armenia (114 CE)

  • In 114 CE, Trajan collected the Eastern Legions as he moved out of Antioch, he was joined by an additional 2 Legions from the Danube, and various Vexillatios from other Legions, giving him around 80,000 men.
  • Trajan then invaded Armenia, the eastern part of modern Turkey, where he replaced the Parthian appointed King.
  • Trajan continued the campaign and the surrounding Kingdoms fell or surrendered to the Roman Armies.
  • Trajan’s strategy was to be a pincer movement launched from Armenia:
    1. One Roman Army was to go north under Lucius Quietus, across the River Araxes from Armenia, and invade the area between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus. This would divide the Persian Army.
    2. Trajan then split the remaining Legions into two groups.

The Invasion of Mesopotamia (115 CE)

  • In 115 CE Trajan invaded Mesopotamia:
  • One army headed east and then down towards Babylon.
  • Whilst Trajan, starting from Dura Europos on the Euphrates, had a fleet of 50 ships built. These he sailed down the Euphrates.
  • Trajan then portaged (hauled) his ships over a 20 mile strip of land between the Euphrates and the Tigris.
  • Once on the Tigris, he captured Seleucia and the Parthian capital Ctesiphon.
  • Continuing down the river, he took Charax on the Persian Gulf, his fleet surviving a Tidal Bore.
  • Here he stopped, having left small garrisons of soldiers to control the occupied territory.
  • Interestingly, he sent a letter to the Roman Senate apologising for not carrying on and invading India, as Alexander the Great had done.
  • Trajan did not attempt to pursue the Parthian Army who had withdrawn beyond the Kushan Mountains into the Iranian Plateau.

The Roman Empire reaches its greatest extent (116 CE)

Rebellions force Trajan to withdraw the Legions from Mesopotamia (115 CE)

  • In 115 CE, a major Rebellion called the Kitos War, erupted, which forced Trajan to withdraw the Legions from Mesopotamia, and back to Syria.
  • Uprisings started to occur, not only in the conquered territories, but also in Egypt, Judaea and Cyrenaica.
  • The Legions were withdrawn from occupied Parthia, and dispersed to quell the various Rebellions.

The Death of Trajan (117 CE)

  • Already unwell, Trajan fell seriously ill on the return journey to Rome whilst sailing past Turkey.
  • He died in the port of Selinus, Turkey, and his body was brought back to Rome.

The Outcome

  • Trajan’s successor Hadrian, adopted a Policy of Deterrence instead of War and the Roman dream of repeating Alexander the Great‘s domination of the East was over.
  • In 121 CE, Hadrian negotiated a Peace Treaty with Parthia that prevented further conflict.
  • Hadrian decided to avoid the huge expense of warfare, and not to conduct any wars during the next 21 years of his reign.
  • Instead, Hadrian, adopted a policy of Deterrence, reinforcing every Frontier with well defended Walls or Limes. He insisted each Legion was constantly training for warfare.

 

Ctesiphon, Iraq

Trajan’s Forum

  • Trajan’s Forum was a monumental combination of open and enclosed spaces to celebrate the victory in the Dacian Wars which ended in 106 CE.
  • The architect Apollodorus of Damascus supervised its construction between 105-107 CE, and the inauguration took place in 112 CE, with Trajan's Column being inaugurated a year later in 113 CE. It held Trajan's Market.

Trajan’s Monuments in Rome

  • Trajan's Market
    • This was a monumental complex of shops and offices.
  • Trajan’s Column
    • This was inaugurated a year later in 113 CE.
  • Basilica Ulpia.
  • Arch of Trajan.
  • Temple of Trajan (not confirmed).
  • Two Libraries.
  • An Equestrian statue of Hadrian, set in the Atrium.

 

 

Trajan’s Forum

 

Maldives

  • The Maldives are a group of 26 Atolls located in the Indian Ocean numbering 1,192 islands.
  • The Capital of the Maldives is Male situated on the King’s Island.

Description

  • The Maldives are part of an underwater mountain chain stretching north south from Sri Lanka, known as the Chagos Laccadive Ridge.
  • The Coconut Tree is recognised as the most important plant in the Maldives.
  • It is the National Tree of the Maldives, and is on the National Emblem and coat of arms.

Ancient Sources

The Romans referred to the Maldives as ‘Divi’.

  • Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st Century CE)
    • mentions the Maldives.
  • Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE)
    • states that they did not use the stars to navigate between the Maldive islands.
  • Philostorgius: (368-439 CE)
    • mentions a man called Theophilus Indus, who was an Arrian Bishop appointed to the See of Abyssinia, Yemen and Socotra.
    • Philostorgius refers to him as being a Roman Hostage from Divi (The Maldives), (presumably the son of the King of the Maldives), who returned eventually to his homeland.

Chagos Islands

  • Below the Maldives is a chain of seven Atolls called the Chagos Islands, which includes Diego Garcia.

Lakshadweep

  • Above the Maldives is a chain of twelve Atolls called the Lakshadweep, which includes Minicoy.
  • Lakshadweep is Sanskrit for one hundred thousand islands, which probably referred to the entire group of islands.
  • They were previously known as the Laccadive, Minicoy and Aminidivi Islands.

Minicoy

  • Minicoy is an island that was originally part of the Maldives, but now forms part of the Lakshadweep, a Territory of India.
  • Minicoy lies between two important Sea Lanes known as the Ninth Degree Channel and the Eighth Degree Chanel.
  • The most important fishing industry on Minicoy is Tuna fishing.

Nine Degree Channel

  • This is a 124 mile (200km) Channel produced by a gap between Minicoy and its neighbouring islands to the North.
  • Its name derives from its position on the Ninth Parallel of Latitude.
  • The Sea Lane for all shipping passing from the eastern Indian Ocean to the Western Indian Ocean is the Nine Degree Channel.

Eight Degree Channel

  • This refers to the Channel between Minicoy and the Maldive Islands to the South.
  • Its name is derived from its position on the Eighth Parallel of Latitude. It is also known as Maliku Kandu. It forms the International Border between India and the Maldives.

 

Maldives, Indian Ocean:

Sinai Peninsular

  • The Sinai Peninsular is a Desert Region located in Egypt. It forms a triangle between the Mediterranean to the north, the Red Sea to the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east.
  • It was part of the Roman Province of Arabia Petraea, which included modern Jordan and southern Israel.

Mount Sinai

  • Mount Sinai is located in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsular.
  • It is possibly the Mount Sinai of The Bible, mentioned in Exodus, where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

St. Catherine's Monastery

  • St. Catherine’s Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox Monastery located at the base of the Biblical Mount Sinai in Egypt. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • It was built between 548-565 CE by Justinian I (527-565 CE) and is a sacred Landmark in Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

Copper and Turquoise Mines

  • Located in the Western Sinai, Wadi Meghara held Copper and Turquoise Mines, while the Copper was smelted in Wadi Nas’b, which holds an estimated 100,000 tons of Copper Slag.
  • At Serabit el Khadim there are Turquoise Mines as well as the Temple of Hathor.
  • Copper was mined in Sinai since the Pharaoh Khufu (2,589-2,566 BCE).
  • 100,000 tons of Slag would have produced approximately 5,500 tons of Copper,

 

Wadi Meghara, Sinai Peninsular

 

Museu de les Terres de l'Ebre, Amposta

Amposta

  • Amposta is a city located near the mouth of the river Ebro 50 miles (80km) southwest of Tarragona, in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, northeastern Spain.
  • It was the Roman port of Amni Imposita in the Province of Hispania Tarraconensis. The Via Augusta crossed the River Ebro a few miles upstream at Tortosa.

Description

  • Amposta was acquired by the Romans in 215 BCE during the Second Punic War.
  • Because sediment has flowed down the Ebro for over 2,000 years, Amposta is now well inland.

Museums

Roman Roads

 

Amposta

Aachen Cathedral

Aachen

Aachen: Charlemagne’s city in western Germany

Overview

Aachen, also known as ‘Aix la Chapelle’, is a Cathedral and Spa town located on the river Wurm in western Germany. It was founded in 124 CE as the Roman Spa town of Aquaie Granni by Grenus, and was located in Germania Inferior. Aquae Granni contained Roman Baths based over Hot Springs.

History – Charlemagne and the Resurgence of the Roman Empire

Aachen is also noted for being the capital city of the first Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne (768-814 CE), who built his Palace over a Hot Spring. Charlemagne was crowned ‘Emperor of the Romans’ by Pope Leo III in Rome on 25th December 800 CE. This marked a revival of the Roman Imperial title in the West, as opposed to the title of ‘Basileus’ for Emperors in the Eastern Roman Empire. As King of the Franks, he established and ruled over a kingdom that spanned virtually all of western Europe, including what is now France, Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, half of Italy and Germany, part of Austria and a small part of Spain.

Aachen Walking Tour

  • Your geolocation will appear as a blue icon that moves on the map as you walk.
  • You may start anywhere on the map and just follow the blue line to the next point of interest.

 

Things to Do and Places to Visit in Aachen

1. Westwerk Entrance of Aachen Cathedral

The Westwerk, main entrance to Aachen cathedral

The Westwerk, main entrance to Aachen cathedral

Description: The Westwerk is the main entrance to Aachen cathedral. It has two bronze doors cast in 800 CE, known as the ‘Wolf’s Doors’. Charlemagne built Aachen Cathedral between 793-813 CE. It was constructed in the Carolingian-Byzantine style with a Gothic Choir. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 814 CE, Charlemagne was buried in the Palatine Chapel at the centre of Aachen Cathedral, which bears an unusual octagonal design, with an octagonal domed roof. From 936 to 1531, the Palatine Chapel was the coronation place of the all the Holy Roman Emperors, which included thirty-one German kings and twelve queens. The cathedral Treasury hosts one of the most important collection of medieval artworks in Europe.

2. Elisengarten Park

Elisengarten Park Roman Ruins, Aachen

Elisengarten Park Roman Ruins, Aachen

Description: Roman Ruins (unspecified) are permanently on display in the Elisengarten Park on Hartmannstrasse, which is near Aachen Cathedral. The Elisengarten lies in front of the Elisenbrunnen Fountain and Pavilion.

3. Elisenbrunnen Fountain

Description: This Neoclassical building is built directly over a thermal spring. It consists of an open foyer with two Pavilions that hold two drinking fountains that gush hot thermal spring water at a temperature of 52 degrees C. The high sulphurous content is responsible for the unpleasant odour. People have been coming to Aachen for 2,000 years to ‘take the waters’ and enjoy their healing properties.

4. Couven-Museum

Description: Located at 17 Hunnermarket, the museum is located in a town house dating from the 1660’s. It features interior design styles from several periods including Rococo, Louis Seize (Louis XVI), Directoire, Empire and Biedermeier periods. The museum holds furniture from these periods and a fully restored 18th century pharmacy.

5. Hof Square and Roman Porticus

Replica Roman Porticus, Aachen

Replica Roman Porticus, Aachen

Description: Hof square, more of a triangle than a square, once held the Roman baths and temple area. It is now lined with atmospheric cafes and restaurants from where a replica Roman Portico can be admired. The original is in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn. Where Hof square meets Kramerstrasse, stands the Puppenbrunnen, a fairytale fountain sculpture built in 1975 that features bronze puppets with moveable parts.

6. Aachen Town Hall and Granus Tower

Description: Located opposite Aachen Cathedral, the Town Hall was built in the Gothic style and completed in 1367. It served as the administrative centre for Aachen as well as the place to celebrate the coronation feasts of the new Emperors. The mayor of Aachen resides in the Town Hall. It is open to the public for guided tours during the day. The Town Hall is flanked by two medieval towers, the Granus tower built by Charlemagne in 788 CE as part of the imperial palace, and the Markt tower built in the late 1300’s.

7. Centre Charlemagne

Description: Located at 1 Katschof, the coutyard between the Cathedral and the Town Hall, this museum is dedicated to the history of the city of Aachen with emphasis on the role of Charlemagne.

Which Roman Road was Aachen on?

Via Belgica

Roman roads linked Aachen to the towns of Maastricht and Heerlen. Both these towns were on the Via Belgica. This was Roman highway connected Cologne on the Rhine with Boulogne on the English Channel. The road was a link between the legions of Britannia and the legions on the Rhine.

Nearby Attractions

Saint Servatius Bridge, Maastricht

Saint Servatius Bridge, Maastricht

Cologne Cathedral and Railway Bridge

Cologne Cathedral and Railway Bridge

ThermanMuseum, Heerlen

ThermanMuseum, Heerlen

Gallo-Roman Museum Tongeren, Belgium

Gallo-Roman Museum Tongeren, Belgium

 

Maghreb

  • The Maghreb is the area traditionally referred to as the area of northwest Africa, from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco to the eastern borders of Libya.
  • It included modern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, but not Egypt. During the 16th-19th century CE, the Maghreb was known as the Barbary Coast or Berber Coast.

History

  • Carthage
    • 814-146 BCE:
      • the area came under the control of the city state of Carthage.
  • Roman Empire
  • Vandal Kingdom
    • 435-534 CE:
      • The Vandal Kingdom ruled the Maghreb after the Vandal Invasions of 428-439 CE.
  • Byzantine Empire
    • 534-709 CE:
      • The Exarchate of Carthage: The Maghreb was ruled as part of the Byzantine Empire.
  • Islamic Caliphates
    • 709-1830 CE:
      • The Maghreb formed part of various Islamic Caliphates, before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire.
  • Kingdom of Morocco
    • 789-1912 CE:
      • Morocco remained an independent Kingdom, and was not ruled by the Ottoman Empire.
  • French Empire
    • 1830-1956 CE:
      • The French Empire ruled Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco between 1912 – 1956 CE.
  • Independence
    • 1951 CE: Libya became independent.
    • 1956 CE: Morocco and Tunisia became independent.
    • 1962: Algeria became independent.
    • 1989: The Arab Maghreb Union was established by Muammar Ghaddafi of Libya, based on these four countries, which now includes Mauretania and the Western Sahara.

 

The Maghreb, Africa

Battle of Chios

Date and Location

  • 201 BCE. The Battle of Chios was one of two Battles, the first was a coastal Battle in the Chios Channel between Chios and Asia Minor. The second Battle took place at Lade.

The Reason for the Battle

  • After the First Macedonian War (215-205 BCE) against Rome had ended, Philip V of Macedon set about to preserve his influence in Greece.
  • To consolidate his power, Philip V of Macedon wanted to crush the powerful Rhodian Navy. He built his own Fleet and also made an alliance with the Pirates of Crete. He then set about invading the city states in the Aegean who were allied to Rhodes.

The Adversaries

  • Macedonia under Philip V of Macedon and the Pirates of Crete.
    • versus:
  • Rhodes and the Rhodian Navy and the Navies of Pergamum, Cyzicus and Byzantium,

The Winners

  • Winner: Rhodes and the Rhodian Navy and the Navies of Pergamum, Cyzicus and Byzantium,
  • Loser: Macedonia under Philip of Macedon and the Pirates of Crete.

The Commanders

  • King Philip V of Macedon using a flagship with 10 banks of rowers.
    • versus:
  • Rhodians: King Attalus I and Theophiliscus of Rhodes (who later died of his wounds).

The Strength of the Forces under Philip V of Macedon

The Strength of the Forces under the Rhodians

How the Navies were Deployed

  • Both Navies aligned themselves in the southern part of the Chios Channel, between Chios and Asia Minor.
  • Although Philip V of Macedon outnumbered the Rhodian Fleet by two to one, his sailors were inexperienced.

How the Battle was Fought

  • The Macedonian Fleet appears to have divided itself, with Philip V pursuing the flagship of Attalus I, which ran aground on the coast of Asia Minor. When Philip V towed it through the Fleet from Pergamun, the Pergamun Navy thought they had lost and withdrew. Philip V then retreated.
  • However, the second part of the Macedonian Fleet was engaged near the coast of Chios and experienced severe losses.
  • Philip V was forced to withdraw his Fleet, but his Army was able to take Chios. He pursued the Rhodian Navy and its Allies to Lade.
  • At the Battle of Lade, he had too few ships to defeat the Rhodians, and was obliged to withdraw again.

The Outcome

  • The Rhodian Navy successfully prevented Philip V of Macedon from asserting control over all of Greece.
  • Despite the Rhodian success, the Roman Republic saw Philip V as the main threat to be eliminated and decided to expand their influence into Greece. This led to the Second Macedonian War (200-196 BCE).

Sources

 

Chios, Greece

Baltic

  • The Baltic Sea is an almost enclosed Sea which connects through a narrow seaway called the Skagerrak into the North Sea and so into the Atlantic.
  • Tacitus called the Baltic the ‘Mare Suebicum’ named after the Suebi Tribe in his ‘Agricola’ and ‘Germania’. Pliny the Elder noted that the Baltic had a low salinity.

Baltic Rim Countries

  • The Sea is surrounded by the following countries in clockwise order:
  • Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Kaliningrad (Russia), Poland, Germany, Denmark.

Bays and Gulfs

  • It has four Gulfs and many Bays: the Bay of Bothnia, the Gulf of Bothnia, the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf of Riga and the Gulf of Gdansk.

Islands and Archipelagos

  • Aland Archipelago (6,500 islands), Blekinge Archipelago, Bornholm, Falster, Gotland, Hailuoto, Kotlin, Lolland, Kvarken Archipelago, Mon, Oland, Rugen, Stockholm Archipelago, Varmdon, Usedom, West Estonian Archipelago, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Saaremaa, Vormsi, Wolin and Zealand.

Skagerrak and Danish Straits

  • The Skagerrak is a Strait that connects the North Sea with the Kattegat Sea.
  • It passes between southeastern Norway, western Sweden and the Jutland Peninsular of Denmark.
  • It then connects with the Baltic through the Danish Straits.

Curonian Spit

  • The Curonian Spit forms a barrier which separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea.
  • It stretches 62 miles (100 km) from Lithuania to Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave, and is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Vistula Spit

  • The Vistula Spit is a narrow sandbank that separates the Vistula Lagoon from the Gdansk Bay of the Baltic. The highest Sand dunes reach 82 feet (25m) in height.

Amber

  • Pytheas
    • Pytheus stated that Amber was mainly found on the Baltic Sea coasts.
    • In his Work ‘On the Ocean’ (now lost) Pytheas wrote about Amber.
  • Pliny the Elder
    • He quoted the passage from Pytheas in his Natural History, in which Pytheas claimed that the Gutones found Amber on the beaches of the Isle of Abalus, in the Mentonomon Sea (Baltic), which they collected and then sold to the Teutones.

Amber Road

  • Amber travelled along the Amber Road from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic and the Black Sea.

 

Baltic Sea