3 ms·

Since "colonia" originally denoted any Roman outpost established in conquered territory, you can't invoke the word as a singularly significant element of the ci

Since "colonia" originally denoted any Roman outpost established in conquered territory, you can't invoke the word as a singularly significant element of the city name. Mainz was also part of Germania and is much further East. The current extent of modern Köln is much wider than that of the Roman city of 20,000 people, so you'd have to dig in very specific places to find Roman artifacts.

steiner_j 8y ago
The colonia status survives in the name, that's indeed the main significance. There were of course hundreds of coloniae. Some similar, in that the status also gave the town its name today. E.g. Lincoln, England from "Lindum Colonia". Not every outpost in conquered territory was a colonia though. Some were oppida, while others were military outposts In contrast to CCAA and Augusta Treverorum, Mogontiacum (Mainz) was not a colonia. It was primarily a military post. The main difference is that citizens of a colonia were in fact fully Roman with all the rights and duties. It was also part of a different province - Germania Superior, whereas CCAA was the centre of Germania Inferior. Mogontiacum (Mainz) is further east than CCAA. One of it's purposes was to secure the Limes, but there was a comfortable buffer between the Limes and the town itself. Further north, the wilderness basically began when you crossed the Rhine at Colonia Ulpia Traiana (Xanten) or in fact CCAA... You'll find the majority of Roman artifacts in an area roughly a third of the size of medieval Cologne, which itself is basically just the very city centre of Cologne today. However, a lot of digs were made along the roads leading out of Cologne since these were prominent burial sites for rich Romans. These roads follow the old layout until today...
pluma 8y ago
As the other commenter pointed out, the distinction is that citizens of CCAA were citizens of Rome. You're right that Cologne was founded before "colonia" gained its distinctive meaning of status, though, but my statement about Cologne having had that special status (especially compared to e.g. Mainz) is still true nevertheless. Of course you're also right that modern-day Cologne is bigger than just the Roman center but that's a bit pedantic. The Roman center is of course full of actual ruins (sometimes with medieval ruins on top of them) but artifacts in general (e.g. coins) are still discovered anywhere in the vicinity and especially along the historic roads. In the Roman city center it's enough of a problem that construction projects tend to be delayed extensively but even outside of it "Roman stuff" is still among the things you might accidentally find by digging, alongside more exciting things like live bombs from WW2 air raids. EDIT: It's also worth mentioning that there was also a military outpost on the other side of the river in what is now the "Deutz" district.

steiner_j 8y ago

The colonia status survives in the name, that's indeed the main significance. There were of course hundreds of coloniae. Some similar, in that the status also gave the town its name today. E.g. Lincoln, England from "Lindum Colonia". Not every outpost in conquered territory was a colonia though. Some were oppida, while others were military outposts In contrast to CCAA and Augusta Treverorum, Mogontiacum (Mainz) was not a colonia. It was primarily a military post. The main difference is that citizens of a colonia were in fact fully Roman with all the rights and duties. It was also part of a different province - Germania Superior, whereas CCAA was the centre of Germania Inferior. Mogontiacum (Mainz) is further east than CCAA. One of it's purposes was to secure the Limes, but there was a comfortable buffer between the Limes and the town itself. Further north, the wilderness basically began when you crossed the Rhine at Colonia Ulpia Traiana (Xanten) or in fact CCAA... You'll find the majority of Roman artifacts in an area roughly a third of the size of medieval Cologne, which itself is basically just the very city centre of Cologne today. However, a lot of digs were made along the roads leading out of Cologne since these were prominent burial sites for rich Romans. These roads follow the old layout until today...

pluma 8y ago

As the other commenter pointed out, the distinction is that citizens of CCAA were citizens of Rome. You're right that Cologne was founded before "colonia" gained its distinctive meaning of status, though, but my statement about Cologne having had that special status (especially compared to e.g. Mainz) is still true nevertheless. Of course you're also right that modern-day Cologne is bigger than just the Roman center but that's a bit pedantic. The Roman center is of course full of actual ruins (sometimes with medieval ruins on top of them) but artifacts in general (e.g. coins) are still discovered anywhere in the vicinity and especially along the historic roads. In the Roman city center it's enough of a problem that construction projects tend to be delayed extensively but even outside of it "Roman stuff" is still among the things you might accidentally find by digging, alongside more exciting things like live bombs from WW2 air raids. EDIT: It's also worth mentioning that there was also a military outpost on the other side of the river in what is now the "Deutz" district.