Tarraco

Recovered from the sea in 1948. It is from the 3rd century AD and is decorated on all four sides with reliefs narrating the myth of the hero, Hyppolytus. Hyppolytus' stepmother, Phaedra, fell in love with her stepson and when he rejected her, she pretended he had raped her. Hyppolytus' father, Theseus, seeking revenge, called on the help of Poseidon, the god of the sea, who frightened the horses pulling Hyppolytus' chariot. He was dragged over the rocks and killed. When Phaedra learned of this she committed suicide. Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

Recovered from the sea in 1948. It is from the 3rd century AD and is decorated on all four sides with reliefs narrating the myth of the hero, Hyppolytus. Hyppolytus' stepmother, Phaedra, fell in love with her stepson and when he rejected her, she pretended he had raped her. Hyppolytus' father, Theseus, seeking revenge, called on the help of Poseidon, the god of the sea, who frightened the horses pulling Hyppolytus' chariot. He was dragged over the rocks and killed. When Phaedra learned of this she committed suicide. Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

Showing the curved end of the Roman circus. Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

L(ucio) MINICIO L(uci) FIL(io) GAL(eria tribu) APRONIANO AEDIL(i) Q(uaestori) II VIR(o) ET Q(uin)Q(uennali) COL(oniae) I(uliae) U(rbis) T(riumphalis) T(arraconensi) FLAM(ini) DIVI TRAIANI PARTHICI HEREDES EX TESTAMENT(o) The base of a statue of Lucius Minicius Apronianus, who exercised the local magistratures of aedile, quaestor, duumvir and quinquennial duumvir of Tarraco (the quinquennial duumvir was one of two men who were in charge of the census taken every five years). The full name of the city appears under the abbreviation for Colonia Iulia Urbs Triumphalis Tarraco. He was also flamen (priest) of the deified Trajan. The statue that once stood on this base was erected by his heirs in keeping with his will. Mid 2nd century. (CIL II 4274; RIT 918) Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

D(is) M(anibus) VICTORI ARK(ario) XX LIB(ertatis) P(rovinciae) H(ispaniae) C(iterioris) QVINTILIA PROCVLA CONIVGI A funerary inscription to Victor, the Arkarius XX libertatis, a freedman and imperial treasurer for the tax charged on the manumission of slaves in Hispania Citerior. It was dedicated to him by his wife, Quintilia Procula. Dated to around the 2nd century AD. (CIL II 4187; RIT 238) Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

L(ucio) NUMISIO L(uci) FIL(io) PAL(atina) MONTANO AED(ili) Q(uaestori) II VIR(o) ITEM Q(uin)Q(uennali) II VIR(o) EQUO PVBL(ico) DONATO AB IMP(eratore) HADRIANO AVG(usto) IVDICI DECVR(iae) I NVMISIA VICTORINA SOROR TESTAMENTO IN FORO PONI IVSSIT The base of a statue of Lucius Numisius Montanus who held the local magistrate positions of aedile, questor, duumvir and quinquennial duumvir. Under Hadrian he obtained the status of equite and reached the position of judge of the Roman first decuria tribunals. The statue was dedicated to him in the will of his sister, Numisia Victoriana and was erected in the forum. (RIT 349). Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

M(arco) VOCONIO M(arci) F(ilio) GAL(eria) VACCULAE AEDILI FLAMINI DIVI AVG(usti) QVEST(ori) PAGANVS LIB(ertus) The base of a statue of Marcus Volconius Vacculus, aedile, quaestor and flamen of the deified Augustus. It is dedicated by his freedman, Paganus. Mid 2nd century AD. (CIL II 4279; RIT 356) Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

Made from white marble this statue is dated to between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. It was probably part of one of the funerary monuments that proliferated along the roads which led into ancient Tarraco. It was discovered in 1992 in the Parc de la Ciutat. Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

This gate was opened in the Roman wall in medieval times to provide access to the city from the west. Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

Medieval tower built on to the roman wall in Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

With the Roman walls in the background, Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

In the Colonial Forum, Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.

In the Colonial Forum, Tarragona, Spain. October 2011.