'Romanisation'

Agricola (his name means 'Farmer') was a governor of Britain during the First Century AD. His son-in-law, the historian Tacitus, describes how he tried to keep the Britons under control by introducing Roman ideas - to encourage the natives to want to speak Latin, to live in Roman-style towns and to follow Roman ways.





This huge capital from a pillar (in the museum at Cirencester) epitomises for me how the Romans allowed the people in their Empire to adapt Roman ideas and styles to their own culture. What Celtic building would ever need such an ornate capital on what must have been a massive pillar?


-but notice the totally Celtic carving between the acanthus leaves!



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