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Nijmegen

Unless otherwise indicated, pictures on this page © Marco Prins and Jona Lendering. Photos can be downloaded and used for non-commercial purposes, but you have to acknowledge Livius.
A Dressel-20 amphora from Baetica, found in Nijmegen. Museum Valkhof, Nijmegen (Holland). Photo Jona Lendering. A Dressel-20 amphora from Baetica, found in Nijmegen and put on display (like all other objects on this webpage) in the Valkhof Museum. This type of amphora was produced on the banks of the river Guadalquivir in Roman Andalusia, and used to transport olive oil. That an amphora like this was found in Nijmegen, indicates how much the capital of the Batavians belonged to the Mediterranean world.
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Terra sigilata pottery from Nijmegen. Museum Valkhof, Nijmegen (Holland). Photo Jona Lendering. The city was rebuilt after the Batavian revolt (69-70). The first settlement had been called Batavodurum, which can bet translated as "marketplace among the Batavians"; the second town was fittingly called Noviomagus, "new market". To keep an eye on the former rebels, the Roman government sent a new legion to Nijmegen: X Gemina. This picture shows Roman luxury pottery, terra sigilata, found at Nijmegen.
A milestone showing the distance to Xanten. Museum Valkhof, Nijmegen (Holland). Photo Jona Lendering. A milestone, found along the way to the next Roman city, Xanten, the capital of the Cugerni. The text mentions the titles of the emperor Trajan, who awarded both towns with the right to call themselves after his family, i.e. Ulpia: Colonia Ulpia Traiana and Ulpia Noviomagus. This prerogative was rather empty: it was simply a recognition that the town had been loyal to the emperor. Modern theories that Nijmegen also received "market rights" are simply wrong. As capital of the Batavians, it already had the right of nundinas habere.
Bronze portrait of the emperor Trajan. Museum Valkhof, Nijmegen (Holland). Photo Marco Prins. Bronze portrait of the emperor Trajan. He removed the tenth legion from Nijmegen. Although VIII Hispana has briefly visited the city (in 121 or 122), the presence of the Roman legions was now over.
Oil lamp, showing the Roman supreme god Jupiter and his eagle.
Another oil lamp with an erotic scene.
A third oil lamp: two gladiators greet the man who has organized the games.
Tombstone of a standard bearer (signifer) of XXX Ulpia Victrix. Museum Valkhof, Nijmegen (Holland). Photo Jona Lendering.
Altar, dedicated by the standard bearer (signifer) of the legion that was stationed at Xanten, XXX Ulpia Victrix. It was made in 185.
A vase made of glass. In the third century, glass replaced terra sigilata as luxury earthenware.
Although there has been some debate about fake Christian objects from Nijmegen (more), this silver agraphe is authentic. An agraphe was used to tie a hair-ribbon.
The tomb of a ten-year old girl, from the neighborhood of Nijmegen. She must have belonged to a very rich family, as it could afford an expensive sarcophagus, and was buried with her tambourines. (The picture shows three modern reconstructions.)
 
Finally, a nice fibula from the second century, now in the Allard Piersonmuseum in Amsterdam.

More information about ancient Nijmegen can be found here.
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