Historic Highlights of Germany e.V.
Contact:
Björn Rudek
Phone: ++49 (0)651/979 004 60
E-Mail: info@historicgermany.com

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Trier (pts023/16.12.2014/15:00) - He's the first person mentioned in St. Luke's story of the first Christmas. The traditional Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke begins this way: "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world". All those even vaguely familiar with Luke's Christmas story have heard of Caesar Augustus and his famous decree. Most of us read those words without giving them a second thought. "Caesar Augustus" reigned as emperor of the Roman empire from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D. His reign was marked by peace and security - the famous Pax Romana - as well as by lavish building projects throughout the empire. Traces of his work, and of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, are also found in the cities of Historic Highlights of Germany.

The warm light of the Augsburg "Christkindlmarkt" (Christmas market) bathes the magnificent Renaissance facades of Augsburg's "Rathaus" (Town Hall) and "Perlachturm" (Perlach Tower) in a golden light. Merry laughter is coming from the wooden stands, students enjoy the famous Glühwein (mulled wine), enjoying the evening. A street musician is playing Christmas songs and it's one of those moments when one realizes: Life can be so relaxed.

Surrounded by monumental figures the Roman Emperor Augustus looks down from a magnificent Renaissance fountain which was dedicated to him as the founder of the city. A city guide explains the details to his group and points upwards: "From 1588 until 1594, the grand "Augustusbrunnen" (Augustus Fountain) was created out of bronze and marble. The figure of Augustus is 2.50m tall, weighs 27 cwt and shows Augustus as a 50-year-old man. The gesture of the raised right hand is the "adlocutio", the solemn speech to the army and a laurel wreath adorns the head of the emperor; laurel as a symbol of glory, honor and peace."

After Drusus - the stepson and military commander of Augustus - and Augustus' adopted son Tiberius had conquered the foothills of the Alps, a civilian settlement was established at the confluence of the rivers Lech and Wertach. In honor of the Roman emperor this settlement was given the sonorous name Augusta Vindelicorum - today known as Augsburg and not far from Munich.

A dream of Rome on the Moselle: The imperial residence Augusta Treverorum

Three large stone blocks, which are in the possession of the "Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier" (Archaeological Museum), were taken from a monument erected in honor of Augustus' grandsons Gaius and Lucius who passed away surprisingly in 2 and 4 AD. Roman Trier (Augusta Treverorum) was just two decades old when the Celtic Treverians donated this monument as an expression of their devotion. With regard to monuments, the Romans are still as present in Trier as in no other place north of the Alps. The heavy sandstone blocks of the Porta Nigra which are unique in their size and condition, millions of red bricks of the "Konstantin Basilika" (Constantine Basilica), the underground passages of the "Kaiserthermen" (Imperial Baths), the acoustics of the Amphitheater, the impressive history of the "Dom" (Cathedral) with its Roman core from the 4th century AD. Trier's Roman monuments leave a lasting impression and were declared as world heritage sites by the UNESCO. Even today one stands in reverence in front of the "Römerbrücke" (Roman Bridge) which has brought the city traffic across the Moselle river ever since the 1st century. With a large road building program under Marcus Agrippa Vispasianus, the son-in-law of Augustus, a first bridge over the Moselle river was built in 17 BC: the founding of the city.

Military engineers became builders of Romanization throughout the entire Roman Empire and built roads, bridges and cities. Augustus described the transformation of Rome from a city of brick into a city of marble. People in the Roman provinces wanted to follow suit this dream of Rome. In ancient times, Trier was a center of Roman culture and way of life, findings show this clearly and testify to the wishes of the population at that time: urban living with upscale housing, a thriving economy and private luxury. The impressive Constantine ceiling paintings in the "Museum am Dom" (Cathedral Museum) and the amenities of a prestigious city palace would create long queues in Rome. One walks into Trier without any loss of time. The "Rheinisches Landesmuseum" (Archaeological Museum) has one of the largest Roman collections in Germany. The largest ever found gold treasure of the Romans can be seen, just as special exhibitions and archaeological finds.

Army camp along the Rhine

After they had previously conquered the foothills of the Alps, Augustus sent his stepsons Drusus and Tiberius in 13 BC to Germania for the protection of the borders and further conquest. In the course of this measure, a particularly large military camp was established at the confluence of the Rhine and Main rivers, from where the generals wanted to subdue the savage tribes of Germania. Over four centuries, from the 1st to the 3rd century in late Antiquity, up to 24,000 legionaries lived in Moguntiacum - today's Mainz. The "Landesmuseum Mainz" (State Museum Mainz) houses the largest collection of stone monuments of Roman soldiers, numerous exhibits tell of their life and death. In the "Museum für Antike Schifffahrt" (Museum of Ancient Shipping), which is located near the Roman theater, the variety of ancient water crafts can be explored. The city on the Rhine river is famous for the so-called "Mainzer Schiffe" (Roman ships of Mainz), whose crew protected the Rhine frontier against hostile attacks as part of the Roman Rhine fleet. Drusus died from injuries of a fall from his horse, so that the soldiers erected a 30m high grave of honor for their popular commander. In the "Mainzer Zitadelle" (Mainz Citadel) the "Drususstein" (Drusus Stone) can still be visited. Augustus himself wrote a poem which was attached to the empty grave. He ordered annual commemorations of his stepson, which were held in a theater that was built especially for this purpose.

Turning point in European history: The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest

"Quinctilius Varus, give me back my legions!" Augustus is said to have exclaimed according to legend, after 15,000 Roman soldiers lost their lives in the fight against the Germanic peoples. In only three days, Germanic tribes defeated the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. In the report by the Roman historian Tacitus about the defeat of the leader Varus, the term "Germanic tribes" is used for the first time. Latest excavations from 2009 show that Kalkriese, located on the outskirts of Osnabrück, must have been the scene of this historic battle. It is the biggest defeat in the reign of Augustus and the result of Roman expansionism. After all territories west of the Rhine river were in Roman administration, the Romans expanded to the Elbe river, far into the Germanic territory. The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest with the Germanic tribes (9 AD) put a quick end to this expansion. As Augustus could not put up with this disgrace of the defeat, he strengthened the army on the Rhine river. Impressive findings are shown in the Archaeological Park Kalkriese, the research and results are presented in an exciting and fascinating way. The most famous discovery of the battlefield Kalkriese is the ceremonial mask of a Roman horseman. These were indeed always made individually. They do not show the facial features of the wearer but those of the current ruling emperor - in this case, the features of Augustus.

During his lifetime, the Roman Senate gave Emperor Augustus the title "the venerable one". After his death, Augustus rose to the celestial spheres and became a "divus", a god. He was considered a god but in actual fact, he wasn't one. Augustus was the first emperor of Rome and founder of the Roman Empire. Furthermore, it was Augustus who ended the Roman Republic in 27 BC, declaring himself de facto as sole ruler.

More information about all cities and the Roman heritage journey can be found at: http://historicgermany.com

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Submitter: Historic Highlights of Germany e.V. Contact: Björn Rudek Phone: ++49 (0)651/979 004 60 E-Mail: info@historicgermany.com Website: historicgermany.com