The abandoned Roman city of Coria
Come back in time two thousand years with me to the Roman Empire
Greetings to my Gold and Silver Level Templar Knights here on Substack. This week, I’m journeying along Hadrian’s Wall - the massive construction designed to keep the barbarians from entering Roman Britain. And today - I begin with a visit to the abandoned Roman city of Coria.
I’ve just got underway with my long trek along Hadrian’s Wall following in the footsteps of countless thousands of centurions and legionaries. One can only imagine how they felt patrolling the northernmost frontier of ancient Rome.
These soldiers came from across the empire. Today, I saw the gravestone of one who died nearly two thousand years ago aged 68. Incredibly, he was born in the Syrian city of Palmyra. A place that still boasts incredible Roman ruins today. How amazing he ended up in this rainy, windswept outpost of empire.
Hadrian’s Wall was a massive logistical undertaking. A big thick wall with many towers and forts along its length. Yet after three hundred years of operation, it was abandoned. Along with garrison towns like Coria. That went from being a bustling, wealthy place to nothing.
It was forgotten. The stones of its once impressive palaces, bath houses, granaries and temples were plundered in the medieval period to build the still extant town of Corbridge - about 15 minutes walk away.
It’s said that in the 13th century, King John of Magna Carta fame turned up to try and find Roman treasure he believed was buried there. He went away empty handed.
Today, the ruins are still being uncovered. So let me take you to Coria and the wild northern frontier of ancient Rome! Here is my video filmed today!