Carrawburgh Roman Fort is one of 16 forts along the 73-mile long Hadrian’s Wall, which was begun around AD 122. Carrawburgh housed a garrison of about 500 soldiers – first from south-west France, later from southern Belgium – responsible for defending the frontier of the Roman Empire. Occupying a slightly raised natural terrace, overlooking the Northumberland National Park, it sits between the Roman cavalry fort at Chesters and the infantry fortress at Housesteads.
Nearby stands the fascinating temple to the god Mithras, built by the soldiers of Carrawburgh. Mithraism was a Roman religion inspired by a god originally worshipped in the eastern Empire. According to legend, Mithras captured and killed a sacred bull in a cave, which Mithraic temples were intended to evoke. The temple was probably built by soldierCarrawburgh Roman Fort is one of 16 forts along the 73-mile long Hadrian’s Wall, which was begun around AD 122.
Carrawburgh housed a garrison of about 500 soldiers – first from south-west France, later from southern Belgium – responsible for defending the frontier of the Roman Empire. Occupying a slightly raised natural terrace, overlooking the Northumberland National Park, it sits between the Roman cavalry fort at Chesters and the infantry fortress at Housesteads.s at the fort around AD 200 and destroyed about AD 350.
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