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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 19 2013: City of Chester, England

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The City Gate to Chester. Built by the Roman Empire from the year 70 AD.

In the foreground you can see the remains of a Roman Theatre, unearthed by road works.

The City of Chester was a Roman Garrison Town for about 200 years, until the "Fall of the Roman Empire." It sits at the entrance to the River Dee. Close to Nantwich, a huge source of underground salt, a precious commodity for preserving and cooking food in bygone times. Salt Beef. Salt Fish. Salted Nuts.

It gave us sayings like "A soldier not worth his salt" as many soldiers were paid in Salt.

And our present day "Salary" from the Latin for Salt.

 

ROMAN STONEWORK FOUND WITHIN THE CITY

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DSCF0041THE CITY CENTRE. CHESTER.

 

The Romans gave us Plumbers with their metal "Lead Pipes" (from the Latin Plumbum -Lead)  Aqueducts. Architecture. Flush Toilets. Metal Coins. Theatre. Medicine. Books and a thousand other things. Seen by many as the start of Modern Civilisation.

 

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A SOLDIERS SALARY IN THE 2ND CENTURY WOULD INCLUDE ONE OF THESE.

Any guesses what it is ?

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  • DSCF0276: The City Gate to Chester. Built by Romans from the year 70AD
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Originally Posted by GarryRF:

Yes indeed DrF, A small token of your employers esteem for you!

Fringe benefits !

I must be held in low esteem, because I've never been paid one of those!  Maybe that's just American/Canadian 'rigidity' manifesting itself.  GarryRF, you ever earn any of thsoe coins over in the UK?  

 

It's actually an interesting coin and that I've never seen it before.  I imagine they are rare and valuable.  Every bit as interesting as the other Roman sites of Chester!

 

Thanks, GarryRF

Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

There are many "SPINTRIAE" for sale on Ebay. Many American in origin.

Fortunately I've never been in the Armed Services and found myself in need of comfort.

But you have to remember this is an "Italian" occupying force !

Wouldn't fit in with the "stiff upper lip" of the British ! Ha !

 

 

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