The Antonine wall was at one point the northernmost border of the Roman Empire. It extended across Scotland to create a boundary even further north than Hadrian’s wall. It was constructed under the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pious. The wall likely was intended to create further prestige for the Roman Empire by creating an image of territorial growth. The wall itself also contained a series of propaganda images intended to intimidate people north of the wall. These images were believed to be painted with blood red pigments to illicit fear and demonstrate the violence which the Roman Empire was capable of. One famous example of these images is the Bridgeness Stone which can be seen replicated at Kinningars park. This stone features a Roman inscription as well as depictions of Roman soldiers slaughtering enemy forces. Propaganda was very popular in the ancient world as it allowed the powers at be to manipulate subject people through controlling the information which they received.
The wall ran from Bo’ness on the Firth of Forth to Old Kilpatrick on the Clyde. Today many parts of the wall still survive and can be easily visited. http://www.antoninewall.co.uk/ provides further information on planning your trip to the wall!
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