Author sees writing on the tablets
Published at 09:05, Monday, 21 May 2012
BESTSELLING Roman fiction author Simon Scarrow saw for himself how the soldiers he writes about communicated 2000 years ago.
For the author, whose books have been translated into over a dozen languages and are selling around the world, recently visited the Roman Vindolanda Museum to see its greatest discovery, the Vindolanda Writing Tablets.
The Vindolanda Writing Tablets were discovered in 1973 and are the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain.
Last year, thanks to an investment running into millions of pounds, some of them returned to their rightful home, on loan from the British Museum.
The writing tablets are like postcards from the past and allow a rare insight into the real lives of people living and working at Vindolanda.
They provide a fascinating and compelling insight into private and military lives from a very different time but are hauntingly familiar, covering matters from birthdays through to underpants!
Patricia Birley, director at The Vindolanda Trust, said: “We were delighted to host Simon at Vindolanda as he has a genuine interest in Roman civilisation, which he brings out in his books.
“This was Simon’s first visit to the site in some years and in recent years the Roman Vindolanda museum has been radically transformed, so it was good to get his thoughts, particularly on the writing tablets.
“I’m hoping that we can continue our relationship with Simon, and he would be welcome to take part in one of our excavations and, who knows, maybe in the future, Vindolanda might get a mention in one of his books.”
Mr Scarrow’s past three novels were all Sunday Times best sellers, and his next instalment, Praetorian, is available for purchase now.
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk
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