Journal of Tiberius, humble

merchant and Citizen of Rome

This is the journal of Tiberius, a humble merchant citizen of Rome who makes his trade carrying the fruits of the empire from the world of the sun’s rise in the far east to the furthest setting of the sun in the isles of Britannia. I put this quill to parchment in the middle days of the month of Maius on the 123rd year since the birth of the Christian God. Having placated the Lemures, those restless spirits of the dead, I set with hopes for a swift journey and much profit.

Entry 1, Maius 16, 123 AD

By the time I return I hope that work on Hadrian’s Wall is complete. The picts of Caledonia are truly ferocious, and their ravages are bad for trade.

They are primitive people though, ignorant of architecture, good writing, or any civilized arts.

I have procured a good supply of tin from the mines here, and have gone through the trouble of arranging wagons and boats to cross over to the continent. This may not be the days of Hector or Achilles, but bronze still is favored by many smiths and sculptors, and British tin makes excellent bronze!

Me on my wagon!

Entry 2, Iunius 5

I have crossed the channel separating Britannia from Europa, praise Neptune and the Christian God! The ship was a good choice, as my load of tin is difficult to move in wagons. Indeed, much metal, bulk oil and food grains are moved by ship, so I had the company of like-minded merchants on my voyage.

Our vessel was a modest size, not remarkable in any way and could have been mistaken for any of the thousands of ships that ply mare nostrum! class of vessels. There was an overhanging gallery to protect from the heaven’s rains and the bow of the ship was shaped like the old

Greek triremes, only instead of a ram that concave shape helps the ship to move well in the water. I took a turn at the steering oar a few times, located in the rear of the vessel near the quarters. The square sails require complex rigging, and this two-masted ship was quite beyond my understanding for the most part.

My in my Roman ship!

Entry 3, Iunius 25

Having made landfall on the coast of Hispania, I have traded my tin for a load of good local olive oil, which has a quality much desired across the empire. However, before journeying on I will travel overland to visit some relatives that live in the mountains some way inland from Segovia. I shall take the road all the way, following the marvelous Aqueduct of Segovia which is two stories tall and was probably made a century ago or so.

The aqueducts and roads are certainly two of the most remarkable Roman contributions to civilization, allowing for the transport of great quantities of goods, people and armies very quickly! The aqueducts carry water from far-away mountains to slake the thirst of both great cities

and thirsty fields. Some may say the Greeks were great architects, but we are remarkable! Here is a map of some noatable Roman roads:

Entry 4, Quintilis 10

Segovia is a fantastic city, and has much that any good Roman city can boast of. Its public baths are grand, and many citizens gather there every day to bathe and to share news, gossip, and relax. Men and women

bathe separately, but it’s still a good place to meet people!

There is, regrettably, no amphitheater here, though there are many on this peninsula touched by two oceans. Eleven by last count, though I doubt that any match the grandeur of the Colosseum of Rome, where the masses are entertained, gladiators fight, and Christians are martyred in the most inventive ways!