Come hang with the Romans!
Do you want to hang out with some Romans? Step back in time 2,000 years and visit the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon before August 23rd as they have “Romans in Residence.
You will find re-enactors authentically living and breathing Roman history as you explore the remains of the fortress. Meet Marcus the gardener who used to be a gladiator. Or, if you’re feeling ill, visit Victoria the doctor and she’ll use the herbs from the gardens to cure you. Chat with Flavia and Olivia at the Jolly Boar tavern as they play games and gamble with the Roman soldiers. But watch out for the Centurions on patrol as gambling is illegal. Haggle with the market stall holders, watch craftsmen at work and pay a visit to Lady Helena in her villa.
It certainly sounds like a lot of fun, and you can see some photos of the cast of “Romans in Residence” on National Museum Wales’ Flickr page: www.flickr.com/photos/museumwales/sets/72157621468067641/
There are guided tours throughout the day by costumed guides, and it’s also perfect to explore at your own pace, including the impressive reconstructed Barrack Room which gives a sense of the living conditions for Roman soldiers.
The fortress at Caerleon was home to more than 5,000 soldiers, guarding the Roman Empire at its far western position. It was one of only three permanent Roman Legionary fortresses in Roman Britain, operational for over 200 years. Today, the museum contains many artifacts from the period of Isca Augusta of Legio II Augusta from Roman currency to uniforms as well as the most complete Roman amphitheatre in Britain.
www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/roman/