I love Scotland and travel up there a lot. Ive seen it some where that some of the Pict tribes were cannibals and when the ninth legion marched from York to Scotland they were defeated in battle and consumed! Which would explain why they were never seen or heard of again.
shareWell, I know quite a bit about the history of my home country but am no expert. I have never but never heard of any cannibalism amongst the Picts.
The Ninth Legion was below full strength, and it is accurately assumed many did return, as the Ninth was re-posted later from Eboracum to what is now the Netherlands. (Roof tiles have been discovered there bearing the insignia of the "IXth Legio"). Do remember Rome was not a throw-away society, so most of their barracks' materials would be removed and taken with them.
As you travel over the Border a lot, surely you will have noticed the red roof tiles on many of the older houses only mainly in the Edinburgh,Berwickshire, Lothians and Fife areas. These originally were imported into eastern Scotland from the Low Countries, and indeed have been for a couple of centuries or so. Thus, Romans too traded across the same seaways during their many years in Brittania.
I go to Scotland as a tourist and so perhaps its a fun 'fact' they throw at the holidaymakers. But I promise you I'm not making it up, Ive definitely heard it somewhere. Anyway it was a good film, wasn't it? Made me think of Dog Soldiers.
shareI didn't think for a moment you made it up. I rather think some local up there was pulling your leg all the same :)! (I am an expat Scot now living in south of England, but born & brought up in Edinburgh).
I had a very broad education and Scottish history in my day was delved into quite deeply, including the Romans' presence, and had there been mention of cannibalism amongst our ancient ancestors, all of us would have remembered, am sure. A wee bit of north of the border humour there! Glad you seem to have taken it in good part.
Yes, a good movie but I slightly preferred "The Eagle" also filmed in Scotland. I can recommend it.
I will look out for it. I love that period.
shareYes, a fascinating period in our history.
I was fortunate enough, growing up in Edinburgh, to be within easy reach of the Roman forts at Cramond,(Carumabo?) and near Melrose, Trimontium. Numerous marching camps have now been identified of course, even since my teen years. A visit to NMS in Edinburgh on one of your trips North would be time extremely well spent and highly interesting for you. (For example, are you aware that the largest collection of Roman ceremonial helmets discovered outside of Italy was unearthed at Newsteads in the Scottish Borders ?) It is now known that the Romans spent far more years in what is now Scotland than was previously generally believed, and they planned on remaining, building in stone in some parts of the country, rather than timber. The myth of the tribes defeating them is only that, in some part, a myth. Many of the Lowland tribes were allies of Rome in fact. Agricola defeated the predominantly Highland tribes in AD83 at Mons Graupius (around Bennachie in Aberdeenshire, it is believed now) but was recalled to Rome before he was allowed to consolidate, and Severus was well on the way to utterly destroying them again c.AD209 but had to retreat to Eboracum when he became very ill, and of course died there in AD211. Alas, again, his son and successor did not follow up on his late father's successes.
You will have to visit Scotland more often and get used to our dry humour :)
Cannibalism indeed 0)!!
lol
Mr Ron,
I am acutely aware of everyone with that amazing lovely accent . . .
There are many area accents in Scotland but the ones most similar to mine you will know would be, Ewan MacGregor's (from Perthshire),Andy Murray's(from Stirlingshire), then we have Sean Connery's (Edinburgh),rather than Billy Connelly's (Glaswegian).
Are you American?
signlady
Yes. I'm afraid so.
:¬`
But you left out Gerard Butler & Brian Cox . . . and William Wallace
lol
McGregor is my least favourite of all - tho he redeemed himself with me somewhat in Jane Got a Gun - unfortunately, he did an American accent.
I once watched that Scottish history documentary with Neil Oliver - I thought it was briliant. I wanted to buy that series on DVD - but it is still quite expensive . . .
There are many Scots I omitted. Sorry you aren't mad about Ewan.
Neil is VERY Scottish. He is good on tv but his pronounciation of some words niggles me but I would say that, as I am from the East of the country where our accents are less strong.