Romans.

Going to three countries in such a short time frame certainly did help cement the common links between countries in Europe. First of all  the migratory tribes settled down there - The Iberians in Portugal, the Berbers in Morocco, and the Illyrians in Croatia. Then from 5BC to about 1BC the Roman Empire swept all around.

The all encompassing nature of the Roman Empire.

Then the Roman Empire waned, but plenty of evidence that they were there. The ruins at Volubilis, half way between Fes and Meknes in Morocco were some of the most well preserved that we have seen.

Duncan was very taken by the latrines

Lots of different types of columns still standing, showing that this Roman Temple was in Morocco for centuries

The Gate of Diana

A bathing area

The weather was very hot out on this excavation so I spent most of my time in the Museum.

Some of the mosaic work was very beautiful, and showed figures - not typical of Moroccan (or Portuguese) tiling

Plaques of Janus, Neptune and Silenus which surprised me as that is a Greek name. Sileni Wines who we used to grow for used this. A bit like Bacchus.

These amphora had been carefully pieced together. We saw amphora in use in a winery in Croatia below.

Stiles - probably depicting something related to the family and their occupation.

Parts of fallen columns

Rescued statues

After the Roman Empire started to crumble Christianity started to appear in some countries, the Arabs brought Islam to Morocco, and the Turkish Ottoman Empire brought Islam and some Orthodox Christianity to Croatia.