Revisit Roman Arbeia A Story of Three Emperors: teacher’s notes

Revisit Roman Arbeia is split into four parts, all of which can be downloaded from Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ website:

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A Story of Three Emperors

How to use ‘A Story of Three Emperors’…

‘A Story of Three Emperors’ tells the true tale of Septimius Severus and his two sons, Geta and Caracalla. Images of artefacts linked to the story can be found within this document.

This resource can be used either at Arbeia or in the classroom; you are welcome to use the story however you wish. A list of suggested classroom activities can be found below.

Learning objectives

• What was a Roman emperor? • Learning a new story

Cautionary note

This story involves death and murder.

Suggested classroom activities

• Write a newspaper story about Septimius Severus arriving at Arbeia, of the emperor dying in York, or the murder of either Geta or Caracalla. Alternatively, role play a news report. • Create a Roman Empire map and display it in your classroom. • Create a play of the story. • Illustrate the story. • Write a diary from Julia’s point of view. • Borrow a box of replica and authentic Roman objects from Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums. The Boxes of Delight are free of charge. More information can be found at www.exploreyourmuseums.org.uk .

1 A Story of Three Emperors

A long time ago, the Roman Empire stretched from the hot, scorched deserts of northern Africa, over the deep blue Mediterranean Sea, covering the aromatic vineyards of France and ended in the cold, wet land of Britannia. One man ruled over all this land, he was the Roman emperor, the most powerful Roman alive.

Over the years the Roman Empire saw many emperors come and go, some were loved while others were loathed. One emperor was Septimius Severus. He was ambitious, powerful, dangerous, a husband and a father.

Septimius was married to Julia, and they had two sons; Geta and Caracalla. They may have looked like the ideal Roman family, but Septimius’ sons hated each other.

(Image of the imperial family can be found on page four)

Septimius travelled the length and breadth of his empire, making sure that the power of Rome, and his own authority, remained safe.

One day, Septimius turned his attention towards the northern province of Britannia. The Celts had started rebelling and the African emperor wanted to stretch his empire further north, into the hostile land of Caledonia (Scotland). To help with his campaign, the emperor travelled to Hadrian’s Wall, the boundary between the Roman and barbarian worlds.

A cold wind blew and the ship creaked as the emperor and his family disembarked at Arbeia’s riverside port. The imperial family had travelled hundreds of miles, but they had finally reached the edge of their empire.

While the family settled into their new surroundings, their belongings were removed from the wooden ship. Each chest was fastened with a string of leather, which was secured with a small lead sealing, showing the faces of the emperor and his sons.

(Image of an imperial sealing found at Arbeia can be found on page five).

After much fighting, Septimius conquered the Celts that lived north of Hadrian’s Wall, but unhappy with the Romans being in their land, the Celts soon started to rebel once more. Septimius was determined to achieve his goal he so sent his son, Caracalla, to defeat the barbarians.

Back in the comfort of York, Septimius fell gravely ill. On his death bed he told his quarrelling sons, Geta and Caracalla, “get along with each other, pay the troops and ignore everyone else”. When Septimius died, Geta and Caracalla became joint emperors, but the sons wanted to control the empire alone, without the other brother interfering.

2 Abandoning their father’s wish to conquer the north, the new emperors returned to Arbeia before starting on the long tiring journey back to Rome. Once news of their arrival at Rome reached Arbeia, the local people dedicated an altar to the gods thanking them for Geta and Caracalla’s safe journey.

(Image of the altar can be found on page six)

Ignoring their father’s advice, Geta and Caracalla remained arch rivals. Within a year of Septimius’ death, Geta was murdered by his brother. Caracalla had planned for the murder to take place in front of their mother, Julia.

Caracalla had achieved his ambition; he was Rome’s one and only emperor.

The new emperor wanted to erase all memory of his brother, so Geta’s face was scratched off paintings, and his name was chiselled off monuments including the altar set up by the local people at Arbeia.

As I said before, some of Rome’s emperors were loved while others were loathed. Caracalla was loathed. He was hated so much, that he himself was murdered, while he was going to the toilet; a very dirty end to the most powerful man in the empire.

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The Imperial Family

Top row Left: Julia Domna Right: Emperor Septimius Severus

Bottom row Left: Geta Right: Caracalla

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Lead sealing belonging to Septimius Severus

This, and other sealings found by archaeologists, suggests that Septimius Severus and his family were once at Arbeia. There is the possibility that the imperial luggage, rather than the family itself, came through Arbeia’s port.

Septimius Severus (centre), Geta and Caracalla are all shown on the seal.

This object can be found in Arbeia’s ‘Amazing Finds’ gallery.

5

Altar for the safe return of Geta and Caracalla

Although difficult to read today, the text on this altar tells us that it was set up by locals to thank the gods for Geta and Caracalla’s safe return to Rome.

Geta’s name was erased after his murder.

This object can be found in Arbeia’s ‘Set in Stone’ gallery.

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