Nemausa, Ancient Roman settlement in Occitanie, France
Nemausa is an ancient Roman settlement in Occitanie with numerous structures from the Roman period. The site contains an amphitheater, temples, and an intricate aqueduct system that brought water from distant springs to supply the population.
Veterans from Emperor Augustus's military campaigns settled here around 27 BCE and transformed it into an important Roman colony. The construction of the Via Domitia about 90 years later created direct trade and transport routes connecting Italy to the Iberian Peninsula.
The name comes from a Celtic deity linked to the sacred spring that supplied water to early inhabitants. You can still see how important this water source was in how the city is laid out today.
Wear comfortable shoes as the ground is uneven with many paths crossing ancient ruins. Visit early in the morning or late afternoon when it is cooler and the light makes the structures easier to see.
Coins minted here feature an Egyptian crocodile, a mark of soldiers who had served in the Nile region. These images show how far Roman connections stretched and how experiences from distant military campaigns came home.
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