Verulamium romanization

• Verulamium was founded by the Catuvellauni tribe in 50 Bc as a trading post, due to its connections to london by the main roads
• Romanization = a process of cultural change where Roman styles were adopted by certain people at certain times in certain places with varying degrees of success
• Verulamium started as a Celtic Iron Age settlement, occupied by the Catuvellauni tribe under the control of Cassivellaunus. They were a prominent site for farming and trading due to their connections with nearby tribes, like the Iceni and the Trinovantes.
• The site, also known as Verlamion, was the powerhouse of the Catuvellauni and the centre of their coin minting, evidenced by coin moulds found in the remains of early constructed buildings. Further evidence includes Belgic-Celtic farming settlements and roundhouses found beneath Roman villas (e.g. Park St)
• The first leader to mint his own coins was Cunobelin (Cassivellanaus' son), who was succeeded by his son - Tasciovanus. These coins can be recognised by coins displaying "Tasci Ricon" or "Ver".
• Iron Age structures were dated by Belgic pottery sherds and floors of chalk in timber-framed structures with walls made of wattle, daub and clay.
• The Catuvellauni were farmers, and traded wheat for olive oil, metalwork and pottery, like amphorae, across the sea to the Belgic ancestors, as these products were not native to Britain.
• The first Roman buildings in the city were the forum and basilica. The function of these was as a marketplace, and a social space for social religious and political gatherings. This is likely due to the leadership of Caracatus who was pro-roman and became allies in the Claudius invasion in 43 AD after Cunobelin was defeated.
• the forum contained:

  Curia = the court for the king

  Aedes = the shrine to the patron goddess

  and was believed to have a shrine to the Capitoline triad (Jupiter, Minerva, Juno) and the Imperial cult.

  A) curia

  B) aisle

  C) nave

  D) aedes

  
• The theatre and temple were close to the theatre could house religious events, but also would have been used for plays, pantomimes, choral events and orations.
• The temple was for worship and was believed to be dedicated to Mercury (AKA Hermes), the god of merchants, thieves and the messenger god, this is appropriate for a market town.
• The triangular temple at the entrance is unique to Roman Britain and owed its shape to where the road from London divided in the town. It was believed to be dedicated to Cybele, goddess of nature, fertility and agriculture. Worship included pinecones, ceremonial pottery and animal sacrifice, as found in the remains of the buildings in excavations
• There was also evidence of household shrines for ancestors or favourable gods, found by mini clay/bronze figures found in household remains, namely mercury, venus and hercules
• The town became a Municipium in 50 AD, and this is when the town was officially named Verulamium. However, in 60 AD, Boudicca invaded with the Dobunni and burnt the city down, leading to the town being rebuilt in stone and brick and the eradication of Iron age buildings and materials that may have still existed.
• The bathhouse was constructed in 50 AD and was a recreational social area complete with hypocausts, mosaics and painted walls.
• The baths had several rooms that you could move between:

  Apodyterium = the changing room

  Tepidarium = warm room, heated by flues in the walls from the heat of the hypocaust

  Caldarium = the hot room

  Frigidarium = the cold room

  Natatio = open swimming pool

  Laconia and Sudatonia = dry and wet sweating rooms

  as well as rooms for massage and outdoor exercise
• The townhouses were made from bricks, roof tiles, verandahs and buttresses. Wealthier roman villas were made with mosaics, hypocaust, private baths and painted walls with statues as decoration.
• The town walls were erected in the 4th Century, for defence against the uncertainty of the barbarian invasions and were up to 5ft tall. The Roman rule in Verulamium met its demise soon after due to the rise of Christianity and the controversy surrounding the monotheistic religion. The city was renamed as St Albans, after a Roman citizen named Alban was martyred for practising the forbidden religion.
• Cassivellanaus was succeeded by Tasciovanus.

  Tasciovanus was succeeded by Cunobelin.

  Cunobelin was succeeded by Caratacus.

  (Adminius fathered Lucullus, who is believed to be an owner or fishbourne palace, or Togodumnus - his uncle)