Stamps highlight Roman legacy

ROYAL MAIL has today revealed images from a new set of stamps being issued to celebrate Roman life and culture in Britain.

The eight stamps demonstrate Roman Britain with images of sites and key artefacts – all of which remain today. Featured in the set are: Dover Lighthouse; Bignor mosaic; Caerleon Amphitheatre; Ribchester helmet; Bridgeness distance slab; Warrior god, Cambridgeshire; Gorgon’s head, Bath; and Hadrian’s Wall.

It is still possible to see the legacy of Rome by visiting standing remains such as Hadrian’s Wall and the amphitheatre at Newport or by seeking out the huge variety of Roman artefacts that can be viewed in museums across the UK.

Royal Mail worked with the British Museum in the development of the stamp issue.

Richard Hobbs, the Weston Curator of Roman Britain at the British Museum, said: “It was a great honour to work with Royal Mail on this project. The eight sites and objects chosen give a taste of life in Roman Britain, which I hope will encourage people to explore this fascinating period in Britain’s history further. The Ribchester helmet is not only one of the British Museum’s iconic items, but also one of our earliest acquisitions – it’s been in the national collection since 1796, when a hoard of Roman military equipment was discovered in Ribchester, Lancashire. The helmet, decorated with a scene of a battle between infantry and cavalry, was the most spectacular piece.”

PICTURES: ROYAL MAIL/PA WIRE CULTURAL IMPACT: The Royal Mail’s new collection of postage stamps commemorates sites and artefacts from Roman Britain; the series of eye-catching images was developed in conjunction with the British Museum.