An Iron Age Celtic Chieftain’s roundhouse. Sadly the demographic with the highest death rate among the Celts were females between 12 and 25. This says a lot when one takes into account the amount of warfare the men engaged in - often completely naked so to strike terror in the hearts of their opponents with a display of fearlessness. The Celts were by no means “barbarians” as the Romans and Greeks would identify them. They had a deep spiritual understanding of the immortality of the soul, the importance of truth and rightful conduct, and a broad knowledge of astrology. They practiced forms of skull and brain surgery, poetry, engaged in trade, and invented a number of things which the Romans and others later copied from chainmail armor and the scutum shield to road building techniques and mining technology.
Hadrian's Wall: built by the Romans
Although Hadrian's biographer wrote "(Hadrian) was the first to build a wall 80 miles long to separate the Romans from the barbarians", reasons for the construction of the wall vary, and no recording of an exact explanation survives. Theories have been presented by historians, mostly of an expression of Roman power and Hadrian's policy of defence before expansion. On his accession to the throne in 117, Hadrian had been experiencing rebellion in Roman Britain and from the peoples of various conquered lands across the Empire, including Egypt, Judea, Libya and Mauritania.
Warrior Queen
Boudicca's name is commemorated by the adjective we use to describe a lively, spirited woman: bodacious. |
"The whole nation," he wrote, "took up arms, under the command of Boudica, a woman of royal blood... and after pursuing the soldiers scattered among the Roman forts and capturing the garrisons, they invaded the colony [Colchester] itself, as the local center of servitude; no sort of barbarian cruelty was overlooked in the hour of victory and vengeance."
Golden Boadicea necklet found
The missing golden link believed to be 2,000 years old
The final link of what is believed to be a necklet owned by Queen Boadicea has been discovered in Norfolk.The 2,000-year-old treasure is part of a gold torc, a type of Iron Age necklet, and was found by archaeologists in a field in Sedgeford.
The Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project believe it is the end of an Iceni tribe gold torc.
The torc, unearthed 40 years ago, is displayed at the British Museum.
Archaeologist Chris Mackie said the find, near Hunstanton, was "almost like a fairy tale".
"There is this 2,000 year-old torc which at sometime in its life was cut in two, and in 1965 we found one part of it - and after all these years, 40 years later, we have found the other and they will be joined together again - reunited."
The missing golden link believed to be 2,000 years old
The final link of what is believed to be a necklet owned by Queen Boadicea has been discovered in Norfolk.The 2,000-year-old treasure is part of a gold torc, a type of Iron Age necklet, and was found by archaeologists in a field in Sedgeford.
The Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project believe it is the end of an Iceni tribe gold torc.
The torc, unearthed 40 years ago, is displayed at the British Museum.
Archaeologist Chris Mackie said the find, near Hunstanton, was "almost like a fairy tale".
"There is this 2,000 year-old torc which at sometime in its life was cut in two, and in 1965 we found one part of it - and after all these years, 40 years later, we have found the other and they will be joined together again - reunited."
It is the first century A.D. and the Romans have invaded ancient Britain, but the Iceni, a Celtic tribe, are unwilling to live as a subject race in their own land. For a while, they are allowed to continue their lives as usual, without Rome's interference, but when Emperor Claudius dies, the Romans and the new Emperor Nero no longer tolerate the Iceni way of life and endeavor to crush the upstart Queen Boudicca and her tribe. However, they have underestimated the Celtic spirit and, seeking revenge, Boudicca leads her people against the mighty Romans with devastating effect.
If Queen Boadicea is long dead and gone
Still then the spirit in her children's children's children, it lives on If you've lost your faith in love and music, oh, the end won't be long Because if it's gone for you'll actually may lose it And that would be wrong I've tried so hard to keep myself from falling back into my bad old ways And it chars my heart to always hear you calling Calling for the good old days 'Cause there were no good old days, these are the good old days It's not about tenements and needles And all the evils in their eyes and the backs of their mind Daisy chains and school yard games And a list of things we said, "We'd do tomorrow" A list of things we said, "We'd do tomorrow" Arcadians dream so fallen through the albion sails on course Let us man the decks and hoist the rigging Because we found the source, there's twelve rude boys on the road Read more: Libertines - The Good Old Days Lyrics | MetroLyrics Mason featuring Roisin Murphy
Beaten and battle scarred You have grown weary of your doubtful world. Epic battles as titans clash Yet every warrior's heart is only flame. Boadicea surreal life Boadicea Deep within you Boadicea You need love Boadicea You've been strong for so long Boadicea As the hunter is hunted down She slays her enemies on sacred ground The bloody battles have left their scars yet she will fight the good fight though it breaks her heart Boadicea surreal life Boadicea Deep within you Boadicea You need love Boadicea You've been strong for so long Boadicea Got plenty of fight left We're here tonight led This is the real test and finally you rest Out in the night led And I'm gonna take care of your needs And then wipe away your tears Boadicea surreal life Boadicea Deep within you Boadicea You need love Boadicea You've been strong for so long Boadicea (x 3) |
"If Queen Boadicea is long dead and gone, Still then the spirit in her children's children's children, it lives on" are lyrics in the song "The Good Old Days"
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Horrible Histories: look at 9:56