Temple of Claudius, Colchester
Encyclopedia
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The Temple of Claudius (Templum Claudii) or Temple of the Deified Claudius (Templum Divi Claudii) built in Camulodunum
(Roman Colchester) sometime after the Roman conquest of Britain
in AD 43
, although it is not certain whether it was built before or after Claudius
' death and deification in AD 54
.
In AD 60 or 61, during Boudica's uprising, Camulodunum (Colchester) was laid to siege. The town had been left in the hands of old Roman veterans, and this lack of manpower combined with the prospect of destroying a major Roman town, gave the Icenic
force a chance to take revenge. Boudica's army fell on the poorly defended city and destroyed it, besieging the last defenders in the temple for two days before it fell. The 9th Roman Legion from the north attempted to relieve the city but Boudica's Army ambushed the Legion and killed all but a few. None of the legion reached Colchester. Boudica's Army set fire to the temple killing all those held up inside and the whole city was eventually destroyed by the fire. Even today a layer of ash can be found under the surface where the ancient city once stood.
The head from a life-size bronze
statue of Claudius, found in the River Alde
in 1907, roughly 30 miles from Colchester and on the southern edge of Iceni territory, could perhaps have been broken from a statue in the temple by Boudica's forces and carried off as a trophy, although this cannot be more than a guess unless more evidence is found.
Colchester Castle
is built on the remains of its podium
or foundations, which the castle's Norman
builders assumed was solid ground, and the castle overall was built out of tiles and stone
from this and the ruins of other Roman buildings in the town. These foundations have since been dug out and can be viewed today on a castle tour.
The Temple of Claudius (Templum Claudii) or Temple of the Deified Claudius (Templum Divi Claudii) built in Camulodunum
Camulodunum
Camulodunum is the Roman name for the ancient settlement which is today's Colchester, a town in Essex, England. Camulodunum is claimed to be the oldest town in Britain as recorded by the Romans, existing as a Celtic settlement before the Roman conquest, when it became the first Roman town, and...
(Roman Colchester) sometime after the Roman conquest of Britain
Roman conquest of Britain
The Roman conquest of Britain was a gradual process, beginning effectively in AD 43 under Emperor Claudius, whose general Aulus Plautius served as first governor of Britannia. Great Britain had already frequently been the target of invasions, planned and actual, by forces of the Roman Republic and...
in AD 43
43
Year 43 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Vitellius...
, although it is not certain whether it was built before or after Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
' death and deification in AD 54
54
Year 54 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lentulus and Marcellus...
.
In AD 60 or 61, during Boudica's uprising, Camulodunum (Colchester) was laid to siege. The town had been left in the hands of old Roman veterans, and this lack of manpower combined with the prospect of destroying a major Roman town, gave the Icenic
Iceni
The Iceni or Eceni were a British tribe who inhabited an area of East Anglia corresponding roughly to the modern-day county of Norfolk between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD...
force a chance to take revenge. Boudica's army fell on the poorly defended city and destroyed it, besieging the last defenders in the temple for two days before it fell. The 9th Roman Legion from the north attempted to relieve the city but Boudica's Army ambushed the Legion and killed all but a few. None of the legion reached Colchester. Boudica's Army set fire to the temple killing all those held up inside and the whole city was eventually destroyed by the fire. Even today a layer of ash can be found under the surface where the ancient city once stood.
The head from a life-size bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
statue of Claudius, found in the River Alde
River Alde
The River Alde is a river in Suffolk, England, with a source near Laxfield in the same area as the River Blyth. Initially a stream, it becomes tidal and widens considerably when it reaches Snape. It meanders east past Aldeburgh, after which this part of the river was named...
in 1907, roughly 30 miles from Colchester and on the southern edge of Iceni territory, could perhaps have been broken from a statue in the temple by Boudica's forces and carried off as a trophy, although this cannot be more than a guess unless more evidence is found.
Colchester Castle
Colchester Castle
Colchester Castle in Colchester, Essex is an example of a largely complete Norman castle. It is a Grade I listed building.-Construction:At one and a half times the size of the Tower of London's White Tower, Colchester's keep is the largest ever built in Britain and the largest surviving example in...
is built on the remains of its podium
Podium
A podium is a platform that is used to raise something to a short distance above its surroundings. It derives from the Greek πόδι In architecture a building can rest on a large podium. Podia can also be used to raise people, for instance the conductor of an orchestra stands on a podium as do many...
or foundations, which the castle's Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
builders assumed was solid ground, and the castle overall was built out of tiles and stone
Spolia
Spolia is a modern art-historical term used to describe the re-use of earlier building material or decorative sculpture on new monuments...
from this and the ruins of other Roman buildings in the town. These foundations have since been dug out and can be viewed today on a castle tour.
External links
- Colchester Temples at Roman-Britain.org
- The Annals of Tacitus. Book 14, Chapter 31