Today was a day for exploring Roman ruins near Newport, Wales in the small town of Caerleon. As we approached the amphitheater/stadium, it was filled with school children in blue uniforms being marched enthusiastically around the field by their teacher. The Stadium originally had additional wooden seating areas -- to hold 6000! That would include the 5000 soldier stationed in this area and some of the locals who were also serving.
The stadium was just outside the wall. Just inside the wall are the foundations of the barracks that held the soldiers. I wonder about the math -- the museum shows 4 bunkbeds per room, and I counted around 150 rooms -- that would never add up to 5000. We will have to ask.
The baths were amazing -- we walked along on platforms looking down on part of the outdoor swimming pool and several of the rooms. A soldier would start by exercising outdoors, swimming in the outdoor pool, or exercising indoors. Then they would disrobe in the heated room before rinsing off in cold water. Next, in the warm room (tepidarium) they could rub olive oil on their skin. Then they went into the hot room, followed by a return to the warm room to scrape off the gunky oil. A dunk in the cold pool was followed by dressing and playing games like dice. The order of events was somewhat different for different individuals.
The museum (free, public museum) had great interpretation. They had a huge collection of carved carnelian stones from rings -- that they pulled up out of the drains! They also had a large hoard of coins found nearby in 2007 -- including one with a Pegasus, and one with an elephant.
So, when was this? They arrived in about 43 AD, build a more temporary set of buildings a few miles away, and began constructing the baths in 79 AD when they arrived here in Caerleon.
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