The Pantheon on the Boundary

The Pantheon on the Boundary The Hadrian’s wall as a monumental architecture

(Image) Nick Hodgson, Hadrian's Wall: Archaeology and history at the limit of Rome's empire (Marlborough: Robert Hale Ltd, 2017), p. 66.

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Going across the narrow isthmus between the Tyne and the Solway, the Hadrian's Wall is always defined as a defensive wall against invasions by 'barbarian' from the north. People believe that the Wall was built under the order of the emperor with the concept that the empire should have a limit 1. Although there is a protracted argument about the actual function of the Wall from a "customs barrier" to a mere military frontier 2, the Wall as a political monument and its role in the romanisation of Britain have little discussions. Thus, this essay will endeavour to highlight its social-political significance of the Wall from the Greek-Roman tradition, the building context, the design of the wall and its influence in the following years.

There is a general consensus, although Kostof thought it was unfair, that connects civilisation with cities and its defensive wall 3. Archaeologists have found a fine stone wall (Fig. 1) in the site of Jericho, which is considered as the first city, dating back to 7500 B.C 4 . One or two generations before Alexander the Great, a notion of treating the wall as a deliberately decorated element, a monumental structure, beyond their original utility has already emerged among Hellenistic cities 5 . As the successor of the Greek, the Roman may accept this concept.

The city wall of its capital, Rome and later Byzantine are typical examples 6. Meanwhile, as Haverfield demonstrated, the romanisation of the empire was based on its provincial administration, and this administration relied on the frontier of the empire, organised defences could take place on 1

2 3 4 5 6 7

7

the frontier against â–˛Fig. 1 Plan of the stone wall (red) in Jericho7

Nick Hodgson, Hadrian's Wall: Archaeology and history at the limit of Rome's empire (Marlborough: Robert Hale Ltd, 2017), p. 66.

Ibid, pp.158-166.

Spiro Kostof, A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), pp.43-44.

Ibid, p.46.

Ibid, p.174.

Simon Elliott, Empire State: How the Roman Military Built an Empire (Oxford: Oxbow Books, 2017), p.87.

Adopted from Paul Wong, The Ancient Fortified City of Jericho, 2009, <http://www.arkpw.net/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=192:fortifiedjericho> [accessed 5 January 2018].

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'barbarian' and provinces could develop within these defences. The frontier is the protection of the civilised world 1. Based on these concepts, the Wall, not only in Britain but also on the continent, established a relationship with civilisation and romanisation. They acted as monumental architectures illustrating the power and unity of the empire rather than mere military structures.

Also, the construction of the Hadrian's Wall is not a negative defensive motion. Rather, it is an organised military action involving several legions after the proactive strategic realignment.

The empire had kept a mighty military strength in the Scottish Lowland since the battle of Mons Graupius in 83 A.D. (Fig. 2) Hanson supposed that there were about 25,000 troops garrisoned in the southern Lowland in this era 2. The construction process involving three British-based legions and the fleet 3 also proves that the military system is

4 2 Roman forts in north Britain between about 86 A.D. and 105 A.D.4 f▲Fig. 1 2

3 4

Francis Haverfield, The Romanization of Roman Britain, 2 edn (Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1912), pp.9-10.

William S. Hanson, ‘The Roman Presence: Brief Interludes’ in Scotland After the Ice Age: Environment, Archaeology and History, 8000 BC - AD 1000 (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2003), pp.203-205.

Elliott, p.77.

Adopt from Hodgson, p.32.

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organised and efficient. The building of the wall is a positive military action as the former conquer of Scotland. At the same time, the romanisation had taken place in south-east Scotland before the Wall constructed. Tribes began to unit into a larger group, and a new power centre emerged. They had established commercial and diplomatic relations with the empire 1. The decision to construct the Wall may base on the consideration of a more efficient eco-social system rather than the fear of being invaded. Moreover, Hadrian, who was enthusiastic about architecture, also built the Pantheon to show the glory and harmony of the state 2. Presumably, the Wall is one of the series monumental constructions as a statement of a zenith-attained empire.

The design of the Wall and Wall forts could illustrate its monumental nature and enlightenment function. The research in these years has suggested that the wall was coated with either a thin layer of slaked lime or mortar. As Hill demonstrated, these lime or mortar coats had an aesthetic concern apart from its utility to prevent the stone wall from being eroded. The Romans always added joint lines to the mortar surface to create a false appearance of ashlar, which may impress the indigenous more than original squared rubble.

The slaked lime, at the same time, could also indicate the monumental character of the Wall 3.

The baths near those forts also provide further evidence of enlightenment functions of the Wall system. The Romans were the people who first built public baths and associated bathing with various social activities and cultural significance 4. As the troops garrisoning on the Wall were non-citizen auxiliaries 5, the bathhouses could not be a mere place for soldiers and natives to relax but also a place to establish their Roman identity through social activities.

That is to say, the design of the Wall tried to confirm the existence of the empire and the Roman identity of both troops and inhabitants.

Giedion suggested that the architecture could become an organism in itself, beyond the time and social class when it was built and has a long-lasting impact 6 . While evaluating the Hadrian's Wall based on this concept, it is also clear that it is more than a single-functioned 1 2 3 4 5 6

Hodgson, p.99.

Kostof, p.218.

Peter R. Hill, The construction of Hadrian's Wall (Doctoral thesis, Durham University, 2003), p.91.

Ian D. Rotherham, Roman Baths in Brirtain (Gloucestershire: Amberley Publishing, 2012), p.9.

Hodgson, p79.

Sigfried Giedion, Space, Time and Architecture: The Growth of a New Tradition, 5th edn (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2002), p.20.

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defence infrastructure. The archaeological excavations show that the life of the native on both sides of the wall changed upon its construction. To the south of the wall, new settlements resembling the Roman towns (Fig. 3A) rather than the former stone-age tribal roundhouse settlements (Fib 3B) were found in Durham and Darlington, which were assumed to be built by both indigenous elite and Roman immigrations. Meanwhile, the traditional economic system was abolished, and a new one base on the trade with the empire was established, north to the Wall 1. No later than the 3rd century, the settlements accommodating army wives and other civilians next to the Wall forts had become a conspicuous feature of the Wall, and Roman enclaves on the border. Besides, more civil towns which may be built by native developed in the Wall zone in this era, as well as the emergence of the new social elites north to the Wall 2. Though the Wall became the boundaries of Roman Britain by the traditional definition, it is well-documented that the empire could influence society beyond the wall based on it.

A

B

3 4 3 The comparison between the Roman civil town (A)3 and indigenous settlement (B)4 â&#x2013;˛Fig. a b 1 2 3 4

Hodgson, p.94.

Ibid, pp.125-130.

Adopted from Hodgson, p.131.

Ibid, p.97.

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In conclusion, the Hadrian's Wall is not a mere military frontier or the empire boundary.

Instead, its social-political influence is evident. The idea to build a wall beyond defence infrastructure is deeply rooted in the classical concept of the wall and civilisation, considered in the design of the Wall, and realised in the social transformation. It is one of the great monumental architecture built in the Hadrianic era, celebrating the power and civilisation and has a long-lasting effect.

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Bibliography Elliott, Simon, Empire State: How the Roman Military Built an Empire (Oxford: Oxbow Books, 2017)

Giedion, Sigfried, Space, Time and Architecture: The Growth of a New Tradition, 5th edn (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2002)

Hanson, William S., 'The Roman Presence: Brief Interludes' in Scotland After the Ice Age: Environment, Archaeology and History, 8000 BC - AD 1000 (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2003)

Haverfield, Francis, The Romanisation of Roman Britain, 2nd edn (Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1912)

Hill, Peter R., The construction of Hadrian's Wall (Doctoral thesis, Durham University, 2003)

Hodgson, Nick, Hadrian's Wall: Archaeology and history at the limit of Rome's empire (Marlborough: Robert Hale Ltd, 2017)

Kostof, Spiro, A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995)

Rotherham, Ian D., Roman Baths in Brirtain (Gloucestershire: Amberley Publishing, 2012) Wong, Paul, The Ancient Fortified City of Jericho, 2009, <http://www.arkpw.net/index.php ?option=com_content&view=article&id=192:fortifiedjericho> [accessed 5 January 2018].