Yahoo News Edinburgh enthusiast uncovers Scotland's real-life link to Gladiator II characters
An Edinburgh history enthusiast has unveiled a new detailed guide to the Romans in Scotland, amid the release of Gladiator II.
The website, named Romans in Scotland, was created by Andy Wallace and took seven years to complete. He gathered material from universities, museums and government bodies.
Andy also created AI images to help tell the story of Romans in Scotland. The site features over 400 articles, 78 YouTube videos, 55, interactive maps and 1000 images.
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On the new website, Andy said: "There were many surprising finds.
"There is one confirmed amphitheatre in Scotland, two possible ones, a Persian temple in Musselburgh, and Syrian altars in Croy, as well as aqueducts, roads, and forts."
The website features real-life characters from the upcoming Gladiator II film, such as Caracalla and Geta. They came to Scotland in 209 to battle the Caledonians, and stayed for two years.
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Andy suggests their time in Scotland included visits to Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling and beyond. Despite the Romans fighting in Scotland for two years, the Caledonians remained undefeated.
Caracalla and Geta's father died in York, and the brothers returned home to claim the throne. In the film Gladiator II, the events following their return home are told.
Speaking on his site, Andy continued: " I am interested in the topic and was frustrated that information is found across multiple locations held by multiple organisations with no overarching understanding of the context and sequence of events.
"This site tries to make it easier for all of us. My collection of stories on a website was started in 2017 when the BBC reported a Roman coin found in Orkney (this is the original site) I could not find information that explained what the Romans had done in Scotland so I thought that over time I would collect information to get it clear in my head.
"There are many excellent organisations that do various things but there is no overarching book or website that puts it all together. Many years later and after retiral, I am still working on it.
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"I have tried to stick to historical facts and reference academic texts where possible. Not all academics agree and sometimes I make a choice.
"The longer-term ambition is to connect with schools and communities focusing on material that makes our history accessible, and acknowledging the excellent work of professionals and volunteers across Scotland."
You can find out more on Andy's website here.
