Costume drama at the Roman Baths
Costumed characters will now be a regular sight to visitors at
Bath & North East Somerset’s main tourist attraction, the Roman
Baths. Several Roman characters, known to us from archaeological
evidence at the site, will now be encountered by visitors
daily.
Two of the Roman characters will be at the Council-run museum
every afternoon. Some of these already feature on the Roman Baths
award winning children’s audio tour, but now you will be able to
meet them in the flesh.
The characters include Peregrinus, a traveller from Trier in the
Rhineland. He is here on pilgrimage to the great shrine of Sulis
Minerva, but is also interested in developing trading
opportunities.
Sulinus, a local sculptor and his stonemason father Brucetus who
are working on an extension to the Roman Baths. You can listen to
them discussing building techniques, see their tools and hear their
thoughts on some of the newer ideas brought in by the Roman
architects.
Flavia, and her servant Apulia, who are on a visit to the baths
where they are spending a pleasurable afternoon and enjoying some
of the latest treatments on offer at the Roman spa.
Gaius Calpurnius Receptus who is a priest of the goddess Sulis
Minerva. He offers a prayer to the goddess and can give you advice
on the most auspicious times and offerings to make to the
deity.
And finally, Antigonus, a retired legionary, who comes
originally from Nicopolis in what is now Greece. Now living out his
life in Aquae Sulis (Roman Bath) you can hear him reminisce about
his campaigns and the involvement of the military in the building
of the temple and spa here.
Costumed interpreters will be in action every day from 2.00pm.
Visit the Roman Baths website at: http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/ for
more information.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Photo-opportunity:
The costumed characters will be available for photography on Monday
22 October 2007 at 2pm at the Roman Baths.
The Roman Baths
The Roman Baths contains the remains of one of the greatest
religious spas in the ancient world and a Roman museum collection
officially Designated as being of outstanding national importance.
It is the most popular heritage attraction in the South West and is
among the UK’s major heritage sites and, together with the Pump
Room, it receives more than one million visitors a year.
For further information, please contact:
Stephen Clews, Manager at the Roman Baths, on 01225 477774, or
email stephen_clews@bathnes.gov.uk
For images contact:
Maggie Bone, Museums Publicity Officer, on 01225 477736, or email
maggie_bone@bathnes.gov.uk