Aquis Querquennis 3D – Our Project
Correctly interpreting and disseminating the life of previous civilisations has always been one of the great concerns of historians and humanists. Past architecture or a social act cannot be analysed under our gaze, as it must be recreated under the eyes of its former citizens. A clear example is the different concept one has of […]
The Roman camp: A little history
In the current province of Orense, just over 7 km from the town of Bande, is the outstanding archaeological site of Baixa Limia, which includes an old Legion VII Gemina camp and a road stop (mansio). The legion had to move one of their cohorts there to take charge of the construction, maintenance and security […]
Aquis Architecture (I): Construction and defensive system
It is impossible to answer all the questions that a site presents only from the material and structural remains recovered at the same site. Therefore, we have to refer to similar archaeological discoveries of various kinds to carry out a historically accurate reconstruction for the structures found. For this project, we will try to prepare […]
Aquis Architecture (II): Main quarters, hospital and granary.
The previous article explained how the construction was carried out, the materials used and what features the Aquis Querquennis Roman camp had. If you haven’t read it yet, you can check it out here. We will continue commenting briefly on what the architecture and the various components were like that make up the Aquis Querquennis […]
Aquis Architecture (III): Soldiers’ barracks, workshops, areas outside the walls and towns.
This post finishes the series of articles related to the architecture of the Roman archaeological camp, Aquis Querquennis. The previous two can be found at: Aquis Architecture (I): Construction and defensive system Aquis Architecture (II): Main quarters, hospital and granary. In this case, we will comment on the architecture, materials and floor plan of various […]
The official road network of the Roman Empire
Disregarding other ancient sources, sometimes more precise in specific aspects, to represent the general road network in the Roman Empire, on this occasion we prefer to be guided by the famous painted map known as Tabula Peutingeriana. It was named after Konrad Peutinger, who was given it in 1507 by Conrad Celtes, who discovered it. […]
The emperors who built the Via Nova – Flavian dynasty
The construction of the Via Nova between Braga and Astorga took place during the empires of Titus Flavius and his son, Titus. It was finally opened by Gaius Calpetanus Rantius Quirinalis Valerius Festus in AD 79. as recorded on a milestone. Emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus Titus Flavius Vespasianus (November 17, 9 AD – June 23, […]
The General Road Network in Hispania, and the Iberian Northwest in particular
Given that the segment of the Tabula Peutingeriana that included the Iberian Peninsula has been lost, we prefer to resort to Antonine’s Itinerary for a representation of the Roman road network in Hispania. It had no illustrations, as in the case of the aforementioned tabula, but it did have precise toponymical and numerical data for […]
Roman Society: A brief summary
The organisation of the Roman Empire Different peoples have passed through the peninsula throughout our history, each with its own culture and traditions. We have learnt from all of them and seen certain changes in the way of life taking root; one of the most important influences was the Roman Empire. “Romanisation” is a well-known […]
Stages of Roman conquest of the peninsula
The main stages of the Roman conquest in Hispania FIRST STAGE By the Ebro Treaty (226 BC), the Romans and Carthaginians divided the areas of influence in the Mediterranean. When the Carthaginians besieged Sagunto in 219 BC, this served as an excuse for the Romans to declare war on them, the so-called Second Punic War […]
Route: Sendero de Bande – Sierra de Leboreiro
Technical difficulty Intermediate-advanced; Linear trail Type of route MTB, horseback riding and hiking Points of interest Landscape and ethnography Duration 5 hours Total distance 16.570 km Bande Trail – Sierra de Leboreiro This trail begins in the Plaza de la Constitución de Bande and lets you appreciate the popular architecture of the different villages it […]
Area of interest: Church of Santa Comba
A church from the Visigoth era attributed to the 7th century. It was apparently part of an old monastery or cenobium. It shares features with other churches of the time, of which there are few in Galicia. Its plan is a Greek cross, covered with groin and half barrel vaults organised around a central emerging […]
Route: Castrexo de Vilela Trail
Technical difficulty Intermediate; Circular trail Type of route MTB and hiking Points of interest Landscape, ethnography and archaeology Duration 2 hours Total distance 4.69 km Castrexo de Vilela This trail starts from Cima de Vila and runs through a lush oak grove. It joins two important vestiges of the Castro culture: the Castro da Croa, […]
Area of interest: Church of San Pedro de Bande
The parish church of San Pedro de Bande, dating from the 18th century, is in the Baroque style. Its architecture is robust and simple, offering great sobriety and giving it an air of strength. This austerity can also be noted in the rectory, which is organised around a beautiful interior courtyard with columns. This parish […]
Route: Roteiro do Monte Grande
Technical difficulty: Intermediate; Circular trail Type of route: MTB, horseback riding and hiking Points of interest: Landscape, ethnography and archaeology Duration: 8.5 hours Total distance: 31.7 km (Including diversions and variants) Main trail: 17.3 km Shortest variant: 8 km The main path, as well as its shorter variant, has the high point known as Outeiro […]
Bande Roman Baths
Generous hot springs gush forth in this picturesque newly-conditioned thermal area, where it is still possible to use the old baths. The waters, with a temperature between 36° and 48°, are attributed as having beneficial properties against rheumatism and skin diseases. This place in Porto Quintela, in the municipality of Bande, Orense, is one of […]
How was the Aquis Querquennis 3D Scan?
In recent years, 3D digistation scan has become an indispensable tool in archaeological work, both for sites located on the Earth’s surface and for those underground. This new way of working provides accurate and detailed documentation of the different parts of an object or place of study to obtain reliable information in accordance with reality, […]
Aquis Originis: Roman mansio on the Via Nova
Aquis Originis mansio: Rest for travellers who used the old Roman roads. This is the first stop found on the Via XVIII (Via Nova) of the Antonine itinerary when entering the current territory of Galicia, more exactly between miles 38 and 39 of the aforementioned itinerary and near an outcrop of hot springs in the […]
Route: Via Nova Nature Trail
Technical difficulty: Intermediate. Linear trail Type of route: MTB, hiking Points of interest: Landscape, ethnography and archaeology Duration: 7 hours Total distance: 31 km (Santa Comba – A Porte Liñares section: 23 km) This natural path is named after the Roman Via XVIII, also known as the Via Nova. Built during the empire of Vespasian […]
How the Roman Army recruited and a description of their military equipment
According to ancient sources, the Roman army had a selection process when recruiting new soldiers for the legions. It consisted of a physical, an intellectual and a final legal exam, since the young people who took this probatio or test had to prove that they were Roman citizens. In it, certain criteria of age, height […]
Roman Army clothing worn by the different forces
The previous article described the clothing of the legionaries or heavy infantry soldier. In this case, we will continue where we left off, explaining in more detail the clothing of the rest of the military corps that made up a Roman camp. Auxiliary Soldier or Light Infantry As a whole, the auxiliary military corps clothing […]
Via Nova: Roman road between Braga and Astorga
The Via Nova (or Via XVIII) was one of the main roads of antiquity through the northern peninsula. Of the 3 great roads described in the Antonine Itinerary that cross current Galicia, it would seem that the Via XVIII was the most recently built, since its oldest milestones belong to the years 79-80 AD, when […]
Route: San Rosendo Road
Technical difficulty: Intermediate. Linear trail Type of route: MTB, hiking Points of interest: Landscape, ethnography and archeology Duration: 8 hours Total distance: 28.3 km (Santa Comba – Alto do Vieiro section: 15.2 km) The San Rosendo route from Porto-Quintela to Orense is part of the recovery of 225 km of pedestrian routes connecting Porto-Quintela (Bande) […]
Why was there a Roman camp here?
Why a Roman camp in Orense? Very late in the 1st century AD, in the time of the Emperor Vespasian, Rome decided to open a shorter and more direct route between Braga and Astorga, the so-called Via Nova, through the internal lands of Gallaecia. It was opened in the 79 AD in the name of […]
How were Roman roads built?
Construction of a Roman road, such as the Via Nova. Before the arrival of the Romans on the Iberian Peninsula and to other regions in Europe, there were no proper roads per se. Perhaps small roads for livestock linking native villages, but little else. The Roman administration planned the construction of roads only in territories […]
Roman remains found at Aquis Querquennis
Digs in the Bande military compound have yielded a very high volume of cultural remains; and this material can help us understand how day-to-day life was organised in the fortification. Tools and other equipment For various reasons, the amount of metal remains recovered from the site is not very high. All in all, a series […]