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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TypeCoin971793, post: 2972534, member: 78244&quot;]On Friday, I went to Trier, Germany. (There is still more to do there, so I will probably go back in the future.) Trier is a very old city that still retains much of its original Roman architecture. There are several locations where the original walls are still standing or still identifiable, as well as ruins from the Roman baths, amphitheater, and a Bassilica built by Constantine. Of course, there were obviously many other examples of old architecture between Roman times and now. I find it utterly amazing to walk down a street and it looks to me mostly as it did to the same people walking it 200-300 years ago.</p><p><br /></p><p>(All pictures were taken by me)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]729479[/ATTACH]</p><p>The Porta Nigra (“Black Gate”), built 160-180 AD. It used to be white, but centuries of weathering have turned it black, thus the name given during the Middle Ages stuck. It was originally built to be a gate to the city. In the 11th century, it was destined to be dismantled, and the bricks reused in other projects. A guy named Simeon, in an attempt to save the building, took up residence in the building. He was canonized after his death, and the gate was turned into a church, which is why it still exists today.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]729480[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>A section of the original wall that surrounded the city.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]729481[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Nearby, a Roman structure that would have housed one of the three bathhouses in the city. This one would have been one of the largest in the Empire, attesting to the wealth and prestige of the city. The presence of the amphitheater also supports this. I did not get to explore the ruins because I spent too much time in the museums (more on that later), so I plan on going back.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]729483[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]729484[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]729485[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The first museum I went to was of Roman construction (I think). If not, it was definitely built on the Roman walls. (See below)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]729490[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>There were many coins and mint supplies found around this wall during excavations for the museum, suggesting the Roman Trier mint was nearby. The gift shop had several genuine Roman coins for sale, but they were all low-grade, high-priced, and had no provenance to Trier.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]729482[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The Constantine Basillica. I did not have time to go inside because I was rushing across town to meet my friends in the other museum.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now for a bit of history into the town.</p><p><br /></p><p>The name “Trier” stems from the name “Trevori,” which was the name of the Gallic tribe that was living in the area. The city was annexed by the Roman Empire after the defeat of the Gauls by our friend Julius Caesar. According to legend, the city was founded 1300 years before Rome by a man called Trebeta. This legend is recorded by a medieval inscription on the “Red House”:</p><p><br /></p><p>“ANTE ROMAM TREVIRIS STETIT ANNIS MILLE TRECENTIS.</p><p>PERSTET ET ÆTERNA PACE FRVATVR. AMEN.”</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]729478[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The Red House</p><p><br /></p><p>During the Middle Ages, the City of Trier tried using this legend (since proven to only be such) to gain autonomy from the Archbishopric of Trier. Alas, they were unsuccessful.</p><p><br /></p><p>As a part of the Roman Empire, the name was changed by emperor Augustus to “Augusta Treverorum.” He then decided that this city should be one of the regional capitals. The city quickly became of of great importance and size, with upwards of 80000 people. An amphitheater was built in 100 AD, and a major mint was established in the 3rd Century AD, signifying the importance of Trier.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]729497[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>A model showing what Roman Trier would have looked like.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the 3rd Century, Trier became the seat of an archbishopric, which is basically an area where the archbishop has authority. This early start eventually made it one of the most important states in the Holy Roman Empire (or as my high school history tracher called it, the Not-Holy Not-Roman Not-Empire). Then in the early 5th century the city was captured by the Franks, then by Attila and the Huns in 451, and then firmly held by the Franks again in 475. The city became incorperated into the Kingdom of Lorraine in 843 with the Treaty of Verdun, ruled by one of Charlemange’s three grandsons, Lothair II. When he died in 870, Trier became part of the East Frankish Empire under Henry I, which would later become Germany.</p><p><br /></p><p>An example of the Archbishop’s power was erected in 958 in the market square, which stated his authority and that God, through him, will protect the city. The original is in the city museum for protection, and a replica was put in its place. As you can see, this amount of power is very likely the reason the city tried to break away from the archbishopric. (More pictures and info coming; I have reached the 10 picture limit.)[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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