Lindum Colonia

Lindum Colonia, Colonia also Domitiana Lindensium, was an ancient Roman city on the site of today's Lincoln in the county of Lincolnshire in England.

The city was a Roman colony ( colony), which was founded at the end of the reign of Domitian in the Roman province of Britannia Britain. Was located on the site of the city before the camp of the Legio IX Hispana.

Location

Lindum Colonia was at the crossroads of some important Roman roads and had the river Witham as other important traffic artery. From north to south it was the " Ermine Street ", the Londinium (London ) and Eboracum ( York) association. The Isca Dumnoniorum (Exeter) upcoming " Fosse Way " ended in Lincoln. In the city, there was probably also a bridge that spanned the Witham. Furthermore, there was a road that led to the coast to the east.

City ​​building

The ancient city consisted of two parts. In the north, on a hill, there was a square (300 × 300 meters), approximately 16 -acre site, which was located on the site of the former military camp. It is also known as the Upper Town. South succeeded by the so-called Lower Town, which was just as wide, but about 400 meters long. Which bordered on the south by the Witham, a small river. The modern building, it 's hard to get a picture of the ancient city. The lower town developed apparent from the camp settlement ( Canabae ), which was located next to the military camp.

The city had a city map with streets intersecting at right angles, although there is also a diagonal street in the Lower Town, which implies that the previous settlement rather unplanned growth. The upper town had from the beginning a city wall, which was made ​​of stone and replaced the earthworks of the military camp. The arc of the northern city gate still stands on partially. The wall of the city has been built later.

In the middle of the upper town were the forum, a basilica. The forum was held at the site of the Principia of the legionary camp and was obviously fed to a civilian function with its conversion into a civilian settlement. Just north of the Forum the remains were excavated by spas. In the north there was an aqueduct which supplied the city with water. In the lower town remains were found of a public fountain and another bath. Here also the remains of a possibly classical temple could be found. Little is known of the residential building. Especially in the 19th century were found scattered mosaics, which usually have only geometric patterns. They occupy an upscale residential level and suggest some magnificent residential buildings. Outside the walls there were cemeteries, suburbs and also workshops.

Late Antiquity

Under Diocletian was Lindum Colonia capital of the newly established province of Flavia Caesariensis. For the fourth century a bishop is attested by the name Adelphius, who was present at the Council of Arles 314. Otherwise, there is little evidence of Christianity in the city. After all, there is in the lower town remains of a building with an apse, which is oriented to the east. It could be a church. Throughout this century, the population seems to be more and more drawn to the banks of the river.

The city lost in the fifth century in importance, but there is evidence for a continuous settlement, at least on a small scale, to the Middle Ages. For this purpose, especially the names of continuity is a testament; Lindum Colonia was from Lincoln.