Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 30 on 01/12/2006.

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Meet the Romans

Ian R Mitchell looks at where you can find traces of the Roman invasions of Caledonia, the only territory their legions failed to conquer

Scotland’s Antonine Wall is currently the subject of an application that it be added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites existing in Scotland, these already include Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns, St Kilda, and New Lanark. Such a listing would raise the profile of Scotland’s Roman sites in general, which are one of the country’s main underutilised tourist and educational assets. Meanwhile, from short walks from the car park to major hikes, along with indoor bad weather options, here is a brief sample of the many places where you can meet the Romans in Scotland. They are my personal favourites, and they each offer a different kind of experience of the land the Romans called Caledonia.

BENNACHIE
By Inverurie, Aberdeenshire In AD 79 20,000 Roman legionaries invaded the present territory of Scotland. They were led by Gnaeus Julius Agricola, and the native Caledonian tribes, whom Agricola called “a pack of spiritless cowards,” wisely retreated before this overwhelming force. Unfortunately, in AD 84, the Caledonians decided to make a stand at a place called Mons Graupius by Tacitus. He was Agricola’s son-in-law, who later wrote an account of the Roman invasion. Doubly foolish. The Caledonians abandoned their good defensive position on the mountain to meet the Roman army on lower ground, where, according to Tacitus, the legionaries’ arms “ached with the slaughter of the battle.” He estimates 10,000 Caledonians died, compared with 360 Roman soldiers.

You will probably have h.....

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By Ian R Mitchell

Section : Scottish History

Page number : 24