When in Rome.....well, you just might be in Switzerland

Okay, I may not have had the best history teachers on the planet, but.....  I did know that the Roman Empire extended through Europe, even to Great Britain.  BUT...I never stopped to think that there just might be ruins left in all those places, and I never really associated Switzerland with Roman ruins.  Interestingly enough, just outside of Basel, nearer to Rheinfelden, are multiple sites of what used to be Augusta Raurica.  In its day, it's heyday as the brochure proclaims, 10,000-15,000 people lived and worked here.  Apparently, the colony was founded in 44 BC, but there are actually earlier archaeological traces found that date back to 15 BC.  Originally founded for its strategic importance militarily, once the Romans had conquered these parts, it evolved into a regional center "with market squares, theatres, baths, and temples".  Not only was the River Rhine one of the most important transport routes in the Roman Empire, August Raurica was part of the north-south route that linked Italy to the Rhineland and also part of the west-east route from Gaul to the Danube region.  There, I think I'm done with the history lesson. 

Oh, here's just a bit more.  Once the Romans were forced to pull back their northern frontier, the town center was abandoned, and the army built a mighty fort nearby.  By the 7th and 8th centuries, Basel began its rise to power and the once thriving town of Augusta Raurica became a small fishing village.

On the day we visited (3-5-11),  we only saw a part of what was left behind.  We didn't know how much was out there so alloted ourselves part of the afternoon.  A full day can easily be spent walking to the various sites and enjoying the museum and the Roman House, a re-constructed villa where visitors can roam as if they were the guests of a wealthy Roman family.  We didn't get to all the ruins nor did we get to visit the museum or the Roman House, we are definitely going back.



Along our walk, we were taken on a little reading"tour" of sorts by this gladiator dude.  Each of those concrete forms behind DJ had information on them about gladiators and their lifestyle.  Don't you love MY cute "gladiator"?


1st Stop - The Ampitheater where gladiators once fought:



This is an artist rendition of what once was at the site.


Most of what's left at this site is down at the very bottom level with a few sections of the seats still standing.
There was educational/entertaining information about the gladiators on our walk to the site as well as some there.

There apparently were six types of gladiators (sorry, only got 4 in the picture).  You could tell what kind they were by their weapons and their armor.



This is the netman.  He used his net as a weapon, as he skillfully threw it on his opponents.  Don't you love my smile??



The Lakeman and my man!



You can get an idea here of how tall the ruins are at the base.



DJ in the chamber where the gladiators waited until their game.



Part of the ampitheater  ruin



Near this part of the ampitheater wall, they have created a picnic area.  When you think of what went on here, it's not a very appetizing place to eat!



2nd Stop - Remains of a temple:



That's right, this temple site is right out in the middle of a cow pasture!



Perhaps this was a well???



 

This gives you a sense of the size of what's left of the columns.  DJ's 6' 3"-ish, and some of that column is missing.



A random column out in the field indicating that the original temple was much larger, and that we were looking at a small part of its remains.



A parting shot as we continued along the trail (this stuff is spread out over acres and acres).

3rd stop - The Theater (and definately the most impressive ruin that we had seen to that point):



Here we are entering the theater area, and then you come around the corner and see more....



...by far, the most intact structure we'd seen to that point.



But look at the view from the next hill---this thing is massive.  They actually have reinforced the seating in some mesh wire and have installed a new wooden stage so they can use this for productions today.

 

One of several, beautifully preserved arches.



DJ in another arch---an entrance to the theater at the top.



On the other side of the outer walls of the theater---at the top

4th Stop - A Collection of Roman Pillars (all excevated from Augusta Raurica):

Some day... after other visits to possibly get better shots AND after some "photo-shopping" AND when they're printed in black and white AND matted AND framed, you will see some of these hanging on a wall in my home.  Okay, at least I have visions of some awesome possibilities:



5th Stop - Curia (a meeting place, possibly Senate chambers):



This is the top of the Curia structure as it exists today.  The railing has been added as a safety feature because this is several stories up.

The Curia - Inside this structure is a most impresive collection of mosaics found in Augusta Raurica, but guess who's camera batteries were low on juice---the old flash just didn't want to work.  Really, I was lucky to get half of these pictures.  The battery light kept coming on and then the camera would shut down.  I'd wait awhile and then get some shots off.

6th Stop - Near the museum:

Here are some random things the we saw as we continued our walk.



Notice some things that we use in our society today?

An oven or furnace near the Curia



This is an oven in what was once a bakery.





Statuary in a courtyard near the museum.



Notice the inscription on this one near the top.



There was actually a collection of headstones there as well.



Was thinking that this was some ancient water fountain or way to feed animals or perhaps even a bathtub of some sort, but the date on the side MCMLX converts to 1960!  I'll have to ask some questions the next time I go.



7th Stop - 2nd Temple on top of a hill (what I now call Temple Hill---sounds like Manti, Utah):

This appeared to be just the lower level of a temple, but there was a door and a gate which were locked---no chance to see the inside.



Some funny sidelights:

Cowbells are for things other than Texas Homecoming Mums!  Take a look - they are still used today.




Remember how I told you that the first temple ruin was in the middle of a cow pasture?  I wasn't kidding!  There was a fairly good sized herd of cows, what appeared to be milk cows and some that were possibly very pregnant.  What interested me was their jewelry!



That's right!  Some of the cattle were wearing cowbells.  It was so fun to hear them as the cattle moved within the field.  Sorry, it doesn't take much to intrigue this Vernal gal who grew up visiting cows as her dad delivered fuel to the farmers!  I don't remember seeing or hearing many cow bells, if any.   Swiss cow bells are a big deal.  They even have bigger versions for parades and such!



SPRING HAS SPRUNG!  We started to see signs of spring as we walked through the woods and the fields between the ruins:

And last, but not least, one of my new fascinations---stork nests or potential stork nests:





Remember this stork nest on top of a church in Colmar, France in October?



Here's a closeup of the nest iteself and the framework.



Well, what I didn't post from my trip to Riquewihr, France in February was this:

Framework for another stork's nest!



Look what we saw on our walk back to the car in what was once Augusta Raurica:



This was actually built on the roof of a home.

Do any of you remember the delightful children's book, The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong?  I happened to read it this fall (since I have a lot more time to read now).  It is a tale of determination on the part of a schoolroom full of Dutch youngsters.  Their one and only desire is to find a wheel that could be placed on their schoolhouse roof as an invitation for storks to come back to nest in their tiny fishing village, Shora.  The winner of the 1955 Newbery Medal, this story is timeless.  The vision and dream of these children finally puts the whole village to work until their dream comes true.  Read it to your grandchildren, read it with your grandchildren (I'm hoping to use it for a Skype book club discussion with my oldest granddaughters).  Read it just for yourself.  Read it, you'll like it!

Funny post, I know---Roman ruins to cowbells, to flowers, to storks!  Add to that another intriguing McDonald's where we grabbed a quick supper on the way home.  Didn't take pictures this time, but this one had a room for children with a very long table covered in butcher paper (there was a roll attached at one end)---nothing makeshift about it, very sheek and contemporary.  The kids could draw and color on it to their hearts content while they ate their "Happy Meals".  I've seen this on a smaller scale for homes, but just another fun twist at Mickey D's in Europe!