Yesterday, the time had finally come for the final stage of our adventure. Our Walking the Wall for Daina challenge was almost complete. We wanted to complete it before the kids return to school in September, and also before my younger son turns eight on Sunday! A long way to get started The main difficulty... Continue Reading →| Experiments in Fiction
With only two stages remaining in our Walking the Wall for Daina challenge, it was high time to board a train and head for Carlisle to continue the walk. Yesterday saw me return to my native town, …| Experiments in Fiction
A poem inspired by my last Hadrian's Wall walk, and the scenery and rock art of Cumbria.| Experiments in Fiction
After several weeks’ break from the trail, my sons and I were keen to continue our Walking the Wall for Daina challenge yesterday. We set off early, driving the peaceful Sunday morning roads to our previous end-point of Walton, Cumbria. Long road ahead The day’s destination was to be my native town of Carlisle, some... Continue Reading →| Experiments in Fiction
Archaeologists uncover unusually large Roman shoes at Magna fort, revealing insights into ancient military life near Hadrian’s Wall.| Archaeology News Online Magazine
In the late spring of AD 125, after visiting Delphi and possibly spending some time in Dyrrachium (see here), Hadrian set sail to return to Rome, having completed a four-year journey across the wes…| FOLLOWING HADRIAN
Four years had passed since Hadrian last saw Rome, and it was time for him to return home. In the spring of AD 125, the Emperor departed from Athens and began his journey northward to the Adriatic …| FOLLOWING HADRIAN
Although yesterday started off cloudy, the forecast was for clear skies over Cumbria, so we set off early in order to continue our Walking the Wall for Daina challenge. We have moved beyond the bou…| Experiments in Fiction
My kids and I hit the trail again yesterday, continuing our Walking the Wall for Daina challenge. As we walk further from home, the journey time to get to the start of the walk increases, so we had…| Experiments in Fiction
After attending the Eleusinian Mysteries (see here), Hadrian embarked on a brief tour of the Peloponnese with his wife, Sabina. The Emperor’s presence in several renowned cities during this p…| FOLLOWING HADRIAN
First of all, I would like to wish all of my readers a very Happy New Year! I have certainly been busy for the first few days of January, as you will find out below. This is quite a long post, so g…| Experiments in Fiction
Eleven years had passed since Hadrian last visited Athens. During his stay there, in his mid-thirties, he became an Athenian citizen, enrolled in the tribe of Besa, and served as archon (IG II² 202…| FOLLOWING HADRIAN
In the summer of 124, Hadrian continued his journey through the province of Asia, heading south to visit the great cities of Pergamon, Sardis, Smyrna and Ephesus. From Hadrianotherae, where the Emp…| FOLLOWING HADRIAN
After touring the province of Bithynia, where Hadrian may have first encountered Antinous (see here), the Emperor crossed the Sea of Marmara to Thrace. Accompanying him was the renowned sophist and…| FOLLOWING HADRIAN
After sailing along the southern Black Sea coast, possibly visiting the Pontic towns of Amisus, Sinope and Amastris (see here), Hadrian is thought to have spent the winter of 123/4 in Nicomedia or …| FOLLOWING HADRIAN
After his inspection tour of the eastern frontier provinces (see here), Hadrian travelled through the Pontic mountains to the Black Sea port of Trapezus (present-day Trabzon), the northernmost end …| FOLLOWING HADRIAN