This activity shows the different domestic, or "every day" items the Romans used while living at Trimontium. Guiding Questions: What would be a 'good life' for the Romans?  How do you compare these objects with objects you may have at home?  What human stories do these objects tell? 

When the Romans wanted to send letters from Trimontium to Rome, or even anywhere else in the Roman empire, the mail box had not been invented yet, so a messenger had to take the letters for them!

Bags and satchels for transporting goods and money were tied with a cord held in place by a seal box filled with wax. The holes in the side of the box are where the cord passed through. If anyone tampered with the package, the seal would be disturbed and it would be obvious! 

The seal box pictured here is still intact, and has enamel decoration on its lid. 

How do we send messages to other people today? 

Seal-box with checkered enamel pattern on upper surface, from the Roman site at Newstead

Seal Box.jpg

Trimontium Museum

Seal Box

Flagons like this once held essential liquids for the Roman diet: wine and olive oil! Since storing liquids did not require fancy containers, such as the bronze wine jug, this type of vessel would be used. It was made out of a pottery material called "coarse ware", and was given that name due to how coarse or rough to the touch it would feel. 

This flagon has been reconstructed from dozens of pieces! 

Coarse ware flagon. In several parts reconstructed with possible modern restorations.

Coarse Ware Flagon

Flagon

This horse figurine is made of terracotta (clay), and at one point had a friend standing beside it. However, the second horse has been lost over time.  

It may have been used for decoration, but it could have been a child's toy.  Families, with women and children were living at Trimontium. This may be evidence of their presence. 

If you look closely you can see that the horse seems to be smiling.  Do you think this was a toy or just decoration? If you were a Roman child, would you have liked to play with this horse? Does this looks like any toys that you can find today?  What are the differences you can find between this ancient toy and a modern toy? 

Roman terracotta figurine of a pair of horses. Only one horse survives.  This may have been a child's toy.

Image © National Museums Scotland.

Horse figurine 

Horse Figurine

This bowl is made of a pottery (ceramic) type called "Samian Ware". It's easy to tell due to its bright orange/red colour! This red, glossy pottery was imported from France. It was used for a wide range of tableware such as cups, dishes and bowls.  This bowl is decorated with flowers and even has a running boar on the bottom! The boar was really important to the Roman soldiers at Trimontium, as it was the "mascot" of their legion (Legion XX). Samian ware was more than a regular soldier could afford, so this bowl would have belonged to an officer, or someone important at the Fort.  

This type of pottery was decorated with muthological scenes, floral and geometric patterns.

Would you like to have a bowl like this? What would you use it for? How would it be decorated?

Much restored bowl of Samian ware, with wreath decoration, a figure framing a double volute and below a running boar, from the Roman site at Newstead

Decorated Samian Ware bowl

Samian Ware

This beautiful wine jug would have once served the officers of Trimontium. It is made of bronze. 

The handle has a woman's head with braided hair and hanging curls, with silver in her eyes. It is also decorated with flowers, and with birds on the rim.  

This wine jug was a luxury that only the officers of the fort could afford. Regular soldiers used objects made of ceramic that were not as richly ornamented.

Wine was served from this type of jug, not out of a glass bottle like it is normally done today.

The Romans in Scotland would have imported wine from Italy and the Mediterranean.

Roman bronze wine jug with bands of decoration on the body and rim. 
Ovoid body, flat base and turned-over rim decorated with an ovolo border. It presents a band of decoration around the body with a lotus pattern and traces of silver inlay.

The handle is adorned with floral motifs in relief. Grasping the rim, two stylized long-beaked water birds emerge from pointed reeds. The handle ends in a swirl motif framing a female head, with braided hair, hanging curls, and silver inlay in the eyes.

From the Roman site at Newstead, late 1st century AD.

Bronze Jug

X.FRA 1194 Wine Jug Newstead photo by John Reid .png

For many Romans, going out and buying a new dress or blanket for their bed made of the finest fabrics was something they couldn't afford. So....they made their own! Using the wool from sheep, they would use this type of comb to help break it own and de-tangle it, so the wool could be spun into thread to then sewn into beautiful clothes. The two combs pictured were made out of animal bone (most likely an antler from a deer), and one of them is even decorated with a geometric pattern. 

This weaving comb would be used to help weave the thread in order to make a garment to wear. Image © National Museums Scotland

Standards for Domestic Objects

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework