Some say it is a symbol of Roman power; others say the wall was a symbol of failure of the empire even when it was first built. As a child I used to believe the world ends here. I might had heard the stories about the Roman emperor who dreamt to rule the entire world and who believed he can build wall to divide this world into Romans and barbarians :)
I know it is just a misuse of the Classical past... but I just can't give this story away. The stories you weave in your heart are far more charming than the reality. And I'd say: keep weaving!
One more thing: the purpose of Hadrian's wall was at least as much symbolic as practical. And I wish we could learn to link the symbolic and the practical in everything we do.
3 comments:
Hey, it finally dawned upon me that the name of your blog is from a cranberries song (whilst watching "you've got mail" of all things).
Cranberries' song indeed! Thanks Adam for reading and noticing all these things ;)
Some of us Scots maybe traditionally allow ourselves a wry smile about the wall, Di. Occasionally one will hear certain English people claiming that it should be re-built, additionally!
According to which history book you read, the Romans pushed and pushed to proceed further north but found this extremely difficult. This was due to more than one factor such as the inhospitable, undulating and boggy landscape of Scotland. They found themselves in an early guerrilla-type war which was unfamiliar and unsuitable for them.
Not only were the Scots of the day wild and formidable fighters but the Picts, who were arguably descended from the Basques, a small, swarthy-skinned and barbarian breed gave them the kind of problems they had never encountered before in their relentless march.
By a lot of reliable accounts, the job just became TOO difficult for them and more trouble than it was worth the challenge these tribes presented. They then decided on the wall to attempt to protect themselves from attack and draw a line under their further progress.
Hadrian's wall IS an amazing visit, something I'd like to walk the entirely of some day. I agree with your description of it being a last outpost.
Stu
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