Nimes

 

Nimes was a large Roman city that received water from the famous Pont du Gard aqueduct bridge.

The Pont du Garde museum is... quirky.

Romans used a groma to survey and align the aqueduct.

The museum has an impressive display on the construction of the aqueduct.

Pont du Gard crosses the Gardon River.

It was built in the 1st century A.D., and carried water over 30 miles to Nimes.

Graffiti has been added to its sides since the fall of the Roman Empire.

The symbol of Nimes is a crocodile chained to a palm, symbolizing Augustus Caesar's victory over Marc Anthony in the Battle of Actium.

The Maison Carree is a first century A.D. Roman temple.

You have been visited by Tartuffe the spry wonder dog.

The Temple of Diana in the Jardins de la Fontaine is probably not a temple of Diana, but a library.

The ruins were discovered in the 18th century while Nimes constructed a park.

The park and ruins were built around a spring worshiped by the Celts.

The Tour Magne is at the top of the park.

In the 12th century, a gardener became convinced a Nostradamus prophesy about buried treasure referred to the Tour Magne. King Henry IV gave the gardener permission to vandalize the tower on the condition he received a third of the treasure (that never materialized).

Nimes was founded before 28 B.C. as the colony of Nemausus by the Romans.

Nimes population is ~150,000. At its height in Roman times, the population was ~ 50,000.

The Arena of Nimes became its own neighborhood after the fall of the Roman Empire, and had two churches built inside.

The Musee des Beaux-Arts de Nimes has a collection that spans 2000 years.

Old meets new

Alexander meets Diogenes

Tete de boeuf

Nimes loves their mascot.

The Nimes Archeology Museum is top notch. The Warrior of Grezan is a rare pre-Roman depiction of a Gallic warrior.

Another Gallic man with an impressive hat from the 700s or 600s B.C.

A deposit of cut-off heads and Gaulish weapons from 3rd century B.C. Cailar. Fifty skulls were found there, the previous owners enemies slayed on the battlefield.

Colors of Roman Nimes

Nimes was eventually eclipsed by Arles in the 4th century A.D.

The Franks and Visigoths later fought over Nimes, and it was conquered by the Umayyads in the 8th century.

An animated grave

Rare pavement mosaics from the 1st century B.C.

Original Nimes crocodile coins

Fibulae heralding the end of the Roman era

Early Christian stele

Fighting monsters sculpted by Benedetto Antelami in the 1100s.

Friezes from Nimes' Notre-Dame et Saint Castor, completed in 1096.

How does Saint Luke read?

A 14th century frieze by Andre Vasal, described as "clumsy."

A frieze from one of the churches that used to be in the Arena of Nimes.

The museum sold historic Roman wine, including one made with sea water. It wasn't terribe.