El muro de Adriano

by Adrian Goldsworthy

No hay mayor símbolo de separación que un muro, y no hay, quizá, muro más conocido, que el Muro de Adriano. El Muro de Adriano se construyó en el siglo II para separar a los «bárbaros» caledonios y pictos de la «civilizada» provincia romana de Britania, y aunque desde entonces son incontables los días y noches que ha visto, las lluvias que ha soportado y los hombres que lo han hollado, sus restos permanecen, orgullosos, como el monumento romano más grande y uno de los más famosos.

Con una historia de diecinueve siglos y una extensión de ciento dieciocho kilómetros que atraviesan el norte de la isla de Gran Bretaña –entre el golfo de Solway y el estuario del río Tyne–, el Muro llegaría a incluir quince fortalezas, una cada docena de kilómetros, para albergar las guarniciones permanentes que separaban a Roma de la barbarie. Su función no sería tanto detener a unos eventuales atacantes, algo imposible ante su extensión, sino ralentizar o incluso disuadir de tales intenciones, pues, mientras estuviera bien protegido, sería difícil atravesarlo.

Apoyándose en las numerosas contribuciones a cargo de arqueólogos y especialistas durante las últimas décadas, este libro de Adrian Goldsworthy, uno de los mayores expertos mundiales en la Roma antigua, constituye una importante aportación al estudio de la frontera en la periferia del Imperio. Cuenta, además, con un espectacular aparato gráfico, que conjuga ilustraciones de maestros como Peter Connolly o Graham Sumner con evocadoras fotografías, que nos trasladan a un mundo de frontera, donde los legionarios patrullaban entre nieblas y nieves.

Cuando los romanos abandonaron Britania entre 410 y 450, esta estructura quedaría como la larga cicatriz de lo que fue una última avanzadilla imperial, el último confín de Roma.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Audiobook, Archaeology, Roman History, British Literature

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Adrian Goldsworthy, born in 1969, is the author of numerous acclaimed books, including biographies of Julius Caesar and Augustus. He lectures widely and consults on historical documentaries for the History Channel, National Geographic, and the BBC. He lives in the UK.

Reviews

[Ben-Ain · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 estrellas.

Es el primer libro de Adrian Goldsworthy que puntúo con menos de 4 estrellas, pero si lo hago no es porque el contenido no sea interesante o incorrecto, sino porque al final me ha parecido más un folletín publicitario de la muralla en sí, que un estudio sobre ella.

El libro nos describe basándose en los estudios que se han desarrollado en los fuertes excavados y, mayormente, en Vindolanda, cómo fue la vida de las diferentes guarniciones que vigilaron la Muralla de Adriano y la distribución de las estructuras que en ella se situaban. Adrian Goldsworthy no dejó en el tintero, al menos, otras estructuras, como el Vallum, o incluso nuevas murallas, como el Muro Antonino. También se describen los diferentes obstáculos con los que un eventual incursor podía toparte en su intento de saltar el muro, que eran muchos y bastante eficaces, aunque, como se verá, no completamente infalibles.

A destacar del libro, las ilustraciones. Aunque pocas, me han parecido muy buenas las representaciones de los legionarios y auxiliares que defendieron la muralla durante los últimos estertores del Imperio Romano de Occidente, muy alejados de lo que el imaginario colectivo entiende por un soldado romano.

Por lo demás, bueno... se lee rápido si se tiene tiempo para leer. Puede que ese haya sido también mi problema de no conectar con el libro demasiado, pues lo he leído un día sí, ocho días no.

Lo dicho, un libro que no recomiendo demasiado, teniendo en cuenta otros de mejor y más profundo calado, pero que puede ser entretenido y didáctico si uno planea ir a ver la muralla.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hadrian's Wall by Adrian Goldsworthy, is a fun little read on the aforementioned Wall that separated Roman Britannia from unincorporated regions in Northern Britain (modern Scotland). This book is focused solely on the Wall, and its history, composition, interactions with cultural life, the Empire and the wider world. It discusses the construction of the Wall, and its theoretical purpose, although the author skillfully notes that we still do not fully understand the functions and purposes of the Wall and archaeologists and historians continue to glean new information every time a new dig or study is conducted that changes our preconceived notions of this structure.

Even so, this was a very enjoyable and concise read on Hadrian's Wall. Constructed as a garrisoning point to separate recently conquered territories in Britain, the Wall served as a crossing point for trade, a means of customs and border control, a garrison-economy that drove local civic life, and a barracks for soldiers defending, and raiding, into Northern Britain. The Wall was a complex design, not massive by ancient world standards, but quite the feat of engineering. It consisted of long stretches of wall, with a theoretical rampart for patrols, although this is not proven. Throughout its early history, the Wall had a rather standardized construction, that even so was adapted and rebuilt as needed and depending on the fiscal and military situation at hand at the time. Repairs and new construction sometimes followed uniform design, and sometimes evidence of corner-cutting or quick fixes is noted. Milecastles dotted the wall - these were smallish forts that housed a local garrison and its infrastructure, including granaries, barracks, administrative building, and small towns that abutted them. Soldiers would have been stationed here, and sent to patrol the wall, raid north, conduct diplomatic missions, and promote civil order in the region from these nerve points. Civic life was common here as well; leave papers have been dug up, indicating that soldiers would travel to and from. Local towns abutted the Wall and its forts, with all the civic life that would pertain too in a small garrison town - pubs, farms, civic entertainment and the like.

The Wall began to fall into disrepair for numerous reasons. Hadrian's Wall at one time became a secondary line after the Antonine Wall was occupied farther north. Its gates were removed to allow unhindered travel in and out. However, after the Antonine Wall was abandoned, the Hadrian Wall was reactivated as the last line of defence. This remained the case until internal unrest began to rock the Roman Empire, and soldiers were pulled away for conflict elsewhere. Britain often became a seat for unrest as well, and soldiers for the North would be pulled South to fight in civil conflict. Eventually, Rome lost the ability to administer Britain in any capacity, and new kingdoms and warlords arose, making the unified Wall a forgotten encumbrance. Stones for the Wall were often taken as building materials for local construction. Some of the Milecastles and forts remained occupied as local bases of power, but many fell into disuse.

A great little book on the Hadrian Wall through and through. Although this is not an exhaustive text on the Wall by any stretch, this book has enough tidbits on the Wall, its place in the Roman world, its construction and engineering, and the like, to interest this reader greatly. I enjoyed my time with this book, it was concise and informative, and I would certainly recommend it as reading material for those who enjoy learning about the Roman Empire, and are looking for a smaller niche read.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hadrian's Wall and the associated forts are the largest Roman ruins visible in the world. It is 80 miles long and reaches from the Solway Firth on the Irish Sea across hills and dales to the banks of the Tyne on the North Sea and marked the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. It wasn't the only wall built to be the northernmost frontier, that honour goes to the Antonine Wall. This was started in 142AD and abandoned around 20 years later when legions were moved back to the more substantial Hadrian's Wall. Long thought to be a barrier keeping out the Picts and Ancient Britons that lived north of this wall, it turns out to have a much deeper and complicated history.

Adrian Goldsworthy brings us up right up to on the latest hypothesis' and theories of Hadrian's Wall, considering how it functioned, how it was built and whether it served a military function or it was just a demonstration of power to the marauding tribes. By drawing on the recent archaeological discoveries, in particular, the details gleaned from the tablets discovered at Vindolanda, he pieces together a vivid picture of how life would be there for a soldier on the furthest outpost from Rome. It is a beautifully produced book, full of maps, photos and images of what we know of life in the UK 2000 years ago; definitely a book for any lover of Roman history.

[Larry (LPosse1) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrian Goldsworthy does it again with Hadrian’s Wall—a masterfully written and well-organized deep dive into one of the most iconic frontiers of the Roman Empire. The book is both scholarly and accessible, striking a perfect balance between historical detail and engaging narrative flow.

Goldsworthy brings the wall to life, not only as a feat of Roman engineering but as a living, breathing part of the empire’s northernmost boundary. He delves into its strategic importance, construction, garrison life, and the broader Roman-Britain context without ever feeling dense or overcomplicated.

One of the standout features of this book is its structure. It flows beautifully, guiding the reader through history while anticipating the kinds of questions one might have. The final chapter, offering practical tips for visiting the wall, was a real bonus. The inclusion of web resources and an excellent bibliography makes it a great springboard for further exploration—especially valuable for readers like me who are inspired to dive deeper.

As someone who’s read widely on Roman history, I found this book not only informative but personally inspiring. It has me actively planning a trip to walk Hadrian’s Wall in 2026. That sense of connection—between the past and our present-day curiosity—is exactly what makes history matter. Goldsworthy captures that beautifully here.

Highly recommended for history buffs, travelers, and anyone interested in the fascinating legacy of Rome in Britain.
4.5 Stars used hard cover

[Faustibooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hadrian’s Wall was built by the Romans in the second century and stretched over 117 km from coast to coast near the border of what is now England and Scotland. In this book, one of my favourite authors, Adrian Goldsworthy, tells the story of the wall and how it functioned. The book is quite short, mainly due to there just not being that many sources on the Wall, or on northern Roman Britain in general.

However, the book still gives a nice overview of the Wall. Goldsworthy does a great job at making the book entertaining and the beautiful pictures of the ruins and the nature that surrounds them have definitely made me want to visit it. I especially liked the chapters on Roman life on the wall and the lives of ordinary people near the forts. The final chapter about visiting Hadrian’s Wall was also very helpful to make me even more excited. I wish to walk the entire trail some day, and I’m sure that this book will accompany me on that journey! Four stars!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skimmed through this before going on a trip to the UK to see Hadrian's Wall. It's quite short (about 130 pages) and is organized into several sections that make it easy to skip to whatever subject you're interested in. The book is reasonably engaging, but there's no reason to pick it up unless you have a very specific interest and/or are planning a trip. (There's an entire chapter at the end focusing on trip planning that I ignored, which is typical.)

I particularly enjoyed the section about the Vindolanda writing tablets. One of the tablets features the oldest surviving handwriting by a woman in Europe, and it's a birthday invitation! Claudia Severa sends an invitation to her friend Sulpicia Lepidina and adds at the end, "I shall expect you, sister. Farewell sister, my dearest soul, as I hope to prosper and hail." AMAZING. I, too, hope to prosper and hail at my next birthday.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the first couple chapters, and all you can think is, "Holy crap, this is Game of Thrones!" And, indeed, an internet search reveals that George R. R. Martin did base his mammoth ice wall of the north on Hadrian's Wall.

Built to keep northern raiders out of the Roman provinces to the south and perhaps regulate trade, Hadrian's Wall stretched over 70 miles, from coast to coast. It was a massive undertaking whose construction and maintenance lasted for several centuries at the tail end of the Western Roman Empire. Though many of its stones were later removed and used in other construction projects, large chunks still remain today.

Unfortunately, this book squanders a lot of the inherent wonder through dry academic history prose and a fixation on picayune details like how many pairs of shoes were owned by the soldiers who manned the wall. The author also includes constant disclaimers about the gaps in knowledge that, while necessary, are frustrating and boring.

A historian and not an archaeologist, the author spends too little time on the actual mechanics of construction and examination of the remnants still visible today. Unlike the vibrant color cover, the interior photographs and illustrations are presented in a washed-out to completely-muddled gray, making it hard to appreciate the sheer grandeur of the ancient piles of rocks.

Despite the short length of the book, it took me a while to slog through it. I'm giving it three-stars solely on the subject matter.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps surprisingly, a fascinating history of Hadrian's Wall that spanned northern Britain. Goldsworthy includes history, archaeology, military activities, and perhaps too much engineering for my taste. At 73 miles and manned for only just over 3 centuries this wall is neither as long nor as long-used as the Great Wall of China but it provides a rich trove of archaeological information about early Britain, the Roman occupation, and later history. Were I planning to walk the wall--or even to visit it--I'd appreciate this short history. Derek Perkins excellent narration complements this engaging history.

[David C Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and instructive little book. (My preference would have been for a slightly larger format and more photographs but I get the economics of book publishing,) As always with ancient history, a lot of the work is acknowledging what we don’t know and cautioning against unwarranted conclusions. Much of this is a recapitulation of Roman history as well as fairly detailed descriptions of the walls construction and functions. Most frustrating is that if we know v little about north Roman Britain we know much less about the opponents it faced in what is now Scotland or the dimensions of the conflicts that engaged the region for the best part of four centuries.

[Jonny Parshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming and very informative crash course on Rome's northernmost frontier.

For everything I learned from this book, watch my video on the subject:
https://youtu.be/pDu7bhrPvCA

[Hadley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended to anyone who wants a well-written, comprehensive overview of the Wall's archeology and history.

[Boy Blue · Rating 3 out of 5]

A succinct precis of Hadrian's Wall. Compared to Moffat's The Wall: Rome's Greatest Frontier, this book is a lot more focused. My copy is also full of gorgeous pictures.

Goldsworthy is an expert on the Roman Army more generally and so gives a really good idea of what the army at the wall would have looked like across the centuries.

He pulls from all the right sources but I did notice that he also makes a lot of statements of fact that probably should be a little more uncertain than his very emphatic position. Claiming the mental state of certain historical figures based on histories written centuries after they've passed is tenuous at best. In saying that, I see this as a primer and as such it's probably better positioned to make assertions to set a vivid scene. I still haven't got over Theodore Dodge Ayrault spending 50 pages of the Hannibal biography to identify the exact pass over the Alps he believes Hannibal took and this book is the opposite, no equivocation. The list of source material at the back is also great.


Cassius Dio described Commodus as

Not Naturally evil, but simple minded

Septimus Severus' advice to his sons from his deathbed

'love one another, indulge the soldiers, and despise everyone else.'

Within a year the older brother had murdered his younger sibling. He was in turn killed in 217, stabbed to death by a centurion in his own bodyguard, and this was the start of generations of civil war unlike anything in Rome's past history.

Third time I've come across what seems to be the best description of the Roman army.

Josephus, who as one of the leaders of the Jewish Revolt in the first century AD fought against the Romans, spoke of an army always preparing for war and claimed that their "drills were bloodless battles and their battles bloody drills."

[Noah Goats · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book on Roman History by Adrian Goldsworthy that I’ve read and I have liked all of them. In Hadrian’s Wall he tells the story of the eponymous wall from its construction under Hadrian to its slide into disuse as the Roman empire crumbled. He describes how it was built and what life was like for the soldiers posted there on the outer rim of the empire. He also explains what the wall was good for. I had always assumed it was some kind of boondoggle/vanity project but Goldsworthy set me straight explaining how while the wall wouldn’t stop a full scale invasion it would make cross border raiding (the sort of violence the Scottish border is famous for) infinitely more difficult.

[Robert Kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some interesting facts in it, so it was worth the read, but I prefer history books that contain more of a narrative. This was information you might read in an pamphlet handed out to tourists while visiting the site. Some of Goldsworthy’s other books are more in-depth and tell more of a story.

[Cordellya Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goldsworthy's Hadrian's Wall makes reading about a part of lost Ancient history both interesting and informative. This an an excellent book for anyone interested in Rome or the events that shaped early Britain.

[Al Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short concise approachable book on Hadrian’s Wall, I especially appreciated that tips for viewing/waking it at the very end

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great short history of the Hadrian's Wall. Getting ready to hike the Hadrian's Wall Path in just a few weeks and I'm planning on bringing this along as a reference.

[Andrés CM · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Para mostrarnos esta emblemática construcción como nunca antes, la editorial Desperta Ferro publica "El muro de Adriano", un volumen en el que el famoso historiador Adrian Goldsworthy hace un completísimo repaso por toda su historia y contexto histórico. La obra pertenece a la exitosa colección de libros ilustrados de la editorial, por lo que más allá del magnífico texto del autor, está plagada de todo tipo de fotografías, ilustraciones y recreaciones..."
RESEÑA COMPLETA: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good basic history of Hadrian's Wall. I wish there had been more on traveling to/hiking along the wall, as there was incredibly little of that, but overall, this was an interesting read.

[Lisa-Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

adore large engineering feats, and ancient Rome, and ghostly relics, and British countryside, so what's not to love about Hadrian's Wall? Seventy-seven miles of wall once built across northern England during the First Century, originally 15 feet high and 10 feet wide made of squared stones. I saw a small unimpressive crumbling portion of the wall myself while traveling through England a few years ago and immediately wanted to learn more. This historian writes a no-nonsense explanation of everything you can imagine including construction methods, turret designs, army latrines, and shoes found in the rubble. He methodically tells you what we know and what we don't know about why Hadrian built the wall. I love the mystery of the whole thing.

We know that Roman people flooded into the area and stayed for 400 years, but why? "Only a tiny fraction of the literature of the ancient world has survived into the modern era. These texts mention Hadrian's Wall no more than a handful of times, and the sole surviving statement about its purpose claims that Hadrian built the Wall 'to separate the barbarians from the Romans.'" Sound familiar? We're still doing it, folks, and it makes no sense now either. Unity, not separation is a better goal. But, I digress. The Wall appeals to me as any bold, audacious project that takes 6 years to build with no power tools or earth-moving equipment. And it didn't really keep people out - it mostly slowed them down, forced them off their horses so they could check with guards and pay little bribes to keep moving. There's not much evidence of large battles fought around the Wall, but lots of evidence of small towns growing up near the Wall to serve what became about 15,000 soldiers and travelers. The Wall was abandoned in the fifth century and nearby residents started to re-use the stones for their own building projects. "History never stands still, and priorities change, as do memories. It was not that long after the end of the Roman era that the idea of what the Wall had been became confused - that is, when people bothered to think about it at all.." And so it goes. As Robert Frost reminds us, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall, that wants it down."

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I read the first half and skimmed the second. Recommended by World magazine, I bought this book after reading Eagle of the Ninth to my kids. Boy, was I disappointed. Slow out of the starting gate, its redundancy and lack of certitude bogged me down even further. I realized I don't like books with the words "We think..." or "Scholars surmise..." The fact of the matter is not much is actually KNOWN about Hadrian's wall except its construction and era. The author speaks in conjecture, hypothesis and suppositions. This type of scholarship is not my cup of tea. P.S. The black and white pictures and micro font don't help much either.

[Krisley Freitas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provavelmente esse é o livro menos detalhado do Adrian Goldsworthy - apesar de não ser de forma alguma um livro raso - e acaba deixando uma sensação de “faltou alguma coisa”, ainda que o texto e o conteúdo inserido no livro sejam excelentes. Principalmente a parte dos materiais usados e da engenharia da muralha poderiam ter tido uma discussão mais profunda.

Maior atenção é dada aos fortes e torres ao longo da muralha e nos achados arqueológicos, mas diversos aspectos são abordados, entre eles: o imperador Adriano; construção, manutenção e funcionamento da muralha; como era a vida ao longo das fortificações; a muralha de Antonino; além de dicas de turismo.

O livro conta com diversas fotografias de achados arqueológicos e de partes da muralha atualmente, ilustrações, esquemas e mapas.

Recomendado para quem tem um interesse específico pelo assunto.

[Jay French · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took this book on knowing nothing about Hadrian’s Wall. I found it interesting in the level of detail – not too much, not too little. There’s not a lot of detail known about the wall. There are the measurements and descriptions of the wall from current times. There are mentions of the wall in historical documents, as well as the soldiers that patrolled the wall and the townspeople that supported the soldiers. There is plenty of conjecture about the wall’s use – not so much a defense for battle but a way to slow down attackers and force traffic through toll gates. I enjoyed that story, as well as the descriptions of Legionnaires in the society at the time of the wall. I listened on audio. I believe reading the book, assuming it had good pictures, would be more worthwhile, but on audio you still get the descriptions.

[Adrian Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and to the point, this examination of the history of the Wall is a bit light-but engaging and informative nonetheless. Concerned more with how people lived and manned the Wall and how well that all worked than the architecture and methods of building, you get a feel that the whole project was a living place and thing. Thankfully skipping deep details of the dozens of milecastles, forts, towers, lookouts, ditches, berms, etc that a rigorous academic work would, it's instead shown as a community.

[Carol Blakeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun listen while I sewed today. It’s a short book, not too full of dry details, but has enough to help the reader understand a good deal. I don’t know if the book has maps or not, but as I listened, I was wishing for some for context. I appreciated the History of the emperors and how the wall came to be built, maintained, and then finally dismantled.

He also noted the changes in the archeological records as to the numbers of soldiers and what they ate and even murders discovered.

[Felicity Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Short, engaging chapters that kept me turning the pages. I spent a few days around Hadrian's Wall a few years ago. I was amazed and delighted at how much new-to-me material was in here! In particular, I like the clear statements about what is known, what is probable, what's a guess, and what is a mystery.

If you're curious about Hadrian's Wall, start here. This book will give you an excellent big picture view.

[Jim Bogue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short but very effective history of the Wall and the people on it. It is less a chronological study than an account of how and why the Wall was built, how it was modified over time, and how the army occupying it was organized.
The reader will feel well informed on all the pertinent facts, and impressed by how well Goldsworthy writes and presents. He also provides a small bibliography for those wanting a deeper look.

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goildsworthy is a solid historian and one of those carrying the banner forward today. Roman Britain is a bit of a spinoff that I've grown more interested in the older I get and the more I read about Rome in general. The collapsing of the borders and the abandonment of the British Isles by Rome as it contracted presents some fascinating areas of study and a surprising lack of historical knowledge around the specifics in the following centuries.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clear and easy to understand guide to the wall. It provided a good overview of the history behind the wall's construction and is a must read for anyone attempting the Hadrian's wall path. I would have liked it to have been a little longer, and the section on visiting the wall to have been more comprehensive, but it was an invaluable companion to our 84 mile walk.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise book, with just enough detail for the casual history-interested reader. Really expanded my knowledge of the Roman activity in Britain, and the decline of the wall community adds an interesting dimension to the familiar story of the empires demise.