Gallery | The Romans in North Britain: the Antonine Wall

Ask most people what the northernmost frontier of Roman Britain was, and they would probably say it was Hadrian’s Wall. But there was, for a short time, a boundary further north: the Antonine Wall, now a World Heritage Site. This ran between the Firth of Clyde in the west and the Firth of Forth in the east.

Map showing location of Hadrian's Wall and the Antonine Wall — NormanEinstein: Map showing locations of Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall, CC BY-SA 3.0

It comprised a stone footing with a rampart of turf, and incorporated around 19 forts at intervals of about 2 miles (3km).

Section of Antonine Wall showing the vallum — Kim Traynor: A section of the Antonine Wall at Rough Castle near Falkirk, showing the vallum CC BY-SA 3.0

However, once completed in 142 CE it was only in use for around 20 years, after which the Roman army demolished the forts and returned to Hadrian’s Wall.[1]

This Gallery includes photographs of distance slabs, or building records, now housed at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow.[2] These slabs commemorate the lengths of sections constructed by the legions of the Roman army that were involved in building the wall. There were three legions involved: II Augusta (Second Augustan), VI Victrix (Sixth Victorious), and XX Valeria Victrix (Twentieth Valiant and Victorious).[3] The inscriptions on these slabs are very abbreviated; they usually include a dedication to the emperor—at that time Caesar Titus Aelius Hadranus Antoninus Augustus Pius—the name of the legion/unit, and the distance of wall they built in that section. The names of centurions in charge may also appear. Symbols include a capricorn, symbol of the Emperor Augustus who founded the Second Augustan legion; Pegasus, a symbol of immortality; the boar, emblem of the Twentieth Legion; the figure of Victory; the god Mars (associated with war); Imperial Valor personified; military standards, weapons, and stylized shields (peltae). [4]

The forts were occupied by up to 100 soldiers who were originally from Gaul (France), itself then a Roman province. The forts incorporated bath-houses and temples, and excavations have brought to light altars, tombstones, and evidence of daily life. The Gallery also includes some photographs of the remains of one of the bath-houses at Bearsden, just north of Glasgow, and of some of these other objects.

Distance slab with reclining figure of Victory, 20th Legion

Distance slab showing Capricorn and Pegasus, 2nd Legion

Altar to Diana and Apollo dedicated by Marcus Cocceius Firmus centurian II Augustan

Altar to Jupiter and Victorious Victory, dedicated by Marcus Cocceius Firmus, centurion

Altar to Presiding Spirit of land of Britain, dedicated by Marcus Cocceius Firmus, centurion

Roman bath house, Bearsden: piscina (cold bath)

Roman bath house, Bearsden: frigidarium (cold room)

Bath house, Bearsden: sudatorim (hot & dry)

capricorn and Pegasus Second Legion — Distance slab showing Capricorn and Pegasus, 2nd Legion

VI Victorious legion – Valour of the Emperor from Duntocher

Large distance marker with panels — Cast (turn of 20th century) of distance marker, Second Augustan

Detail of left panel, Roman cavalryman riding down native warriors

Detail of right panel: sacrificial scene

Gravestone Salamanes 15yo — Gravestone of Salamanes 15 years old

Leather shoes Bar Hill fort — Leather shoes from Bar Hill fort

Standard bearer — Building record, Second Legion, Balmuidy fort, depicting standard bearer

Statue of Mars; shinguards with Gorgon’s heads

Tombstone of Ammonius centurion 1st Cohort of Spaniards 27 years service

XX VV carvings and boar — Distance slab, Twentieth Valiant and Victorious: includes their emblem, a boar

Distance marker, XX VV no distance shown — Twentieth Valiant and Victorious: the distance has been left blank!

XX VV Roman victory over barbarians — Distance slab, Twentieth Valiant and Victorious: carvings depicting Roman victory over the enemy

Notes

1 Breeze, David J. 2004. The Antonine Wall: The North-West Frontier of the Roman Empire. RCAHMS and Historic Scotland, Edinburgh. pages 8–11. Breeze gives the dates of use as c142–158 CE. The UNESCO World Heritage Site plaque at Bearsden gives the final occupation date as around 165 CE, and the information boards suggest “before 170”.

2 Details of individual Distance Slabs shown in the Gallery are based on information in the Hunterian Museum.

3 Breeze, p15.

4 Details based on information panels accompanying exhibits at the Hunterian Museum.