All in all it's just another...
March 2, 2019 12:51 PM Subscribe
"The rush to record inscriptions made in a Cumbrian quarry in AD 207 has cast a spotlight on the rich legacy of graffiti in Britain by the Romans. Masons sourcing stone blocks for the nearby fortifications of Hadrian’s Wall carved a date, a phallus and the caricature of an officer."
Historic England:
These inscriptions, known locally as ‘the written rock of Gelt’, were carved by soldiers quarrying stone for Hadrian’s Wall. The series of inscriptions and graffiti made by Roman soldiers give us clues about the military units involved in the work, as well as the officers in charge of the quarrying.
Smithsonian Magazine:
After carefully scaling the quarry walls with the help of ropes and pulleys, the plan is to give the surface of the quarry a cleaning, and then use structure-from-motion photogrammetry to record the etchings, which will be made publicly available via the 3-D modeling platform Sketchfab.
Already, according to the Telegraph’s Patrick Sawer, the team’s preliminary work has revealed several previously unnoticed inscriptions. Two shallow relief busts spotted on the rock ledge could represent self-portraits left by the soldiers, or perhaps a mocking caricature of the men’s commanding officer.
A third marking is less open to interpretation. But the unabashedly phallic symbol isn’t simply a reminder of mankind’s enduring juvenile tendencies: Michael Collins, Historic England’s inspector of ancient monuments for Hadrian’s Wall, tells Cahal Milmo of I News that the Romans generally viewed the phallus as a good luck charm.
Historic England:
These inscriptions, known locally as ‘the written rock of Gelt’, were carved by soldiers quarrying stone for Hadrian’s Wall. The series of inscriptions and graffiti made by Roman soldiers give us clues about the military units involved in the work, as well as the officers in charge of the quarrying.
Smithsonian Magazine:
After carefully scaling the quarry walls with the help of ropes and pulleys, the plan is to give the surface of the quarry a cleaning, and then use structure-from-motion photogrammetry to record the etchings, which will be made publicly available via the 3-D modeling platform Sketchfab.
Already, according to the Telegraph’s Patrick Sawer, the team’s preliminary work has revealed several previously unnoticed inscriptions. Two shallow relief busts spotted on the rock ledge could represent self-portraits left by the soldiers, or perhaps a mocking caricature of the men’s commanding officer.
A third marking is less open to interpretation. But the unabashedly phallic symbol isn’t simply a reminder of mankind’s enduring juvenile tendencies: Michael Collins, Historic England’s inspector of ancient monuments for Hadrian’s Wall, tells Cahal Milmo of I News that the Romans generally viewed the phallus as a good luck charm.
Leave an image of a penis up long enough, and it will become part of our national heritage.
So, basically the “Great Man” Theory of History?
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:51 PM on March 2, 2019 [8 favorites]
So, basically the “Great Man” Theory of History?
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:51 PM on March 2, 2019 [8 favorites]
To any native straying into the vicinity of Hadrian’s Wall without the requisite documentation, it would have served as a peculiarly intimidating reminder of Roman power. Rape was an accepted way for the military to enforce their authority.
That's both not surprising and adds a very icky layer to the Roman pre-occupation with phallic symbols.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 3:57 PM on March 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
That's both not surprising and adds a very icky layer to the Roman pre-occupation with phallic symbols.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 3:57 PM on March 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
So, basically the “Great Man” Theory of History?
You could say that.
posted by BWA at 4:35 PM on March 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
You could say that.
posted by BWA at 4:35 PM on March 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
ROMANES EVNT DOMVS
posted by automatronic at 1:46 AM on March 3, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by automatronic at 1:46 AM on March 3, 2019 [7 favorites]
We as Americans are apparently no different from the Romans, seeing as we have managed to adorn our Oval Office with a giant dick.
posted by e1c at 9:36 AM on March 5, 2019
posted by e1c at 9:36 AM on March 5, 2019
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posted by mermayd at 1:13 PM on March 2, 2019 [12 favorites]