cultureAUGUST09
51
A Roman invasionWith preparations underway for the 13th Hadrians Wall Pilgrimage,
our Roman history is brought further into the spotlight with some
fascinating exhibitions.
S
egedunum Roman Fort in
Wallsend is hosting a trio of
displays this summer to
coincide with the Pilgrimage
inAugust�anhistoriceventwhichonly
takes place just once every 10 years.
The first took place in 1849, led by
famous local antiquarian John
Collingwood Bruce.
And, as the far-eastern point of
Hadrian's Wall, Segedunum holds a
special significance for the pilgrims as
well as for visitors to the Roman Em-
pire World Heritage Site.
To celebrate the occasion, the mu-
seum's programme of summer ex-
hibitions explores the life and
significance of the Wall in its mul-
ticultural context within the Roman
Empire. It was built on the orders of an
emperor of Spanish origin, construc-
ted by soldiers and centurions drawn
from around the Empire, garrisoned
by units also from a range Roman
provinces and later used as a
campaign base by an em-
peror born in North Africa.
The summer exhibitions
programme began in May,
with Names Set in Stone:
The Builders of Hadrian's
Wall which runs until Janu-
ary17nextyearandshows
some of the fascinating
centurial stones excavated
at various points along the
wall.
From information inscribed
on the stones, the exhibition
paints a picture of the centurions who
supervised the project and describes
the obstacles that had been overcome
on the largest Roman structure ever
built.
Then An Archaeology of Race: Ex-
ploring the Northern Frontier in Roman
England, showing now until Septem-
ber 13, has displays of archaeological
materialsandnarrativesreflectingmul-
ticultural Roman Britain.
Included are artefacts relating to
Septimius Severus, a Roman Emperor
born in Lepis Magna � one of the great
colonised cities of Roman Africa � who
came to the North East to campaign
against the tribes north of the wall.
In the period of his rule and beyond
soldiers from all over the world lived on
the frontier. And by exploring the North
as a place of migration and cultural
diversity at that time, this exhibition
challenges existing perceptions.
Then, the third exhibition, in August,
will see Emperor Hadrian once again
return to Wallsend � this time in the
form of a stunning marble portrait on
loan from the British Museum.
View of an Emperor: Hadrian's
Marble Portrait, running from August
14 until October 4, will show the bust
found at Villa Adriana, Hadrian's mag-
nificent country residence near Tivoli,
outside Rome.
Together with the Hadrian's Wall
Pilgrimage, the three exhibitions
demonstrate the wealth of research
and investigation that Hadrian's Wall
has inspired and the fascination that its
history, from Emperor Hadrian down to
the legions who built it, still holds.
Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths &
Museum in Buddle Street, Wallsend,
is open 10am-5pm from Monday to
Sunday. Visit www.twmu-
seums.org.uk/segedunum or call
(0191) 236-9347.
heritagecultureAUGUST09
Segedunum
Roman Fort,
above, plays
host to some
fascinating
exhibits like the
bust of
Emperor
Hadrian, left,
and a lead seal
showing
Emperor
Septimius
Severus, below
right.

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