Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium

Welcome to Cologne, a city that has pulsated with life for over two millennia. As a scholar of antiquity, I am delighted to guide you through the remnants of Co-lo-nia Clau-di-a Ah-ra A-grip-pi-nen-si-um—the city's original Roman…

We stand before a well-preserved section of the Roman city wall. Observe the construction: a formidable combination of local limestone and Roman concrete, or o-pus cae-men-ti-ci-um. …

Just steps away from the Cathedral sits the Roman-Germanic Museum, a treasure house built directly over the remains of an original Roman villa. Peer through the large windows, and you will see the world-renowned Di-o-ny-sus…

We have moved westward to the Hah-nen-tor-boorg, one of the grand gates of the medieval city wall. However, look beneath the 13th-century masonry, and you will find the foundations of the original Roman fortifications. …

Beneath the current City Hall lie the remains of the Prae-to-ri-um, the palace of the Roman imperial governor. This was the seat of power for the entire province of Germania Inferior. …

As we walk through the narrow streets of the Old Town, we are following the grid pattern established by Roman surveyors. The Romans brought a level of infrastructure to this region that was previously unimaginable. …

We conclude our exploration of the Roman city by the banks of the Rhine. To the Romans, this river was the Li-mes—the frontier of the civilized world. …

As we finish our journey through the ancient heart of Cologne, I hope you have gained a scholarly perspective on the enduring power of the Roman legacy. We have walked the lines of 2,000-year-old walls, peered into the homes of…