Roman Megastructures — Season 1, Episode 1: Arelate (Arles)
Documentary • 52 min • 1 season, 3 episodes • ★ 5.3/10
Episode synopsis
In this first episode, we look at Arles, once called the “little Rome of Gaul,” Arles (or Arelate in Latin) occupied an important strategic position at the crossroads between Italy and Spain. In 46 BCE, Julius Caesar founded a Roman colony in this city which had supported him in his long struggle. In time, the city changed and splendid Roman buildings were built.
About Roman Megastructures
50 BC: Julius Cesar reigned supreme over Gaul. But this was no simple military conquest. Rome wanted to spread its greatness, bringing civilization to the defeated barbarians now part of the Empire. Rome’s new territory was transformed through huge construction projects, involving aqueducts, roads, baths, amphitheaters, and arenas. This series explores three cities that today are home to the vestiges of this industrious civilization. Through the use of CGI, archive footage, aerial imagery, and expert testimony, this trilogy unveils the secrets of these wonders of Roman engineering.