This document provides information about the ancient Roman city of Corseul in Brittany, France. It describes Corseul as the capital city of the Coriosolis tribe, founded around 50 BC and originally called Fanum Martis. Fanum Martis had approximately 10,000 inhabitants and covered 11,000 square meters. Like other Roman cities, it was built according to a grid plan with two main streets (cardo and decumanus) intersecting at the forum and other important buildings. The document discusses the layout of a wealthy Roman home (domus), the nearby Temple of Mars (one of the largest Roman temples in Brittany), and the sacred cella tower at the center of the temple precinct where

1. Comenius Project, 2013-
2015
Classical Times light the way
to our future

2. Corseul : civitas Curiosolitum
• It was founded by the Romans around
50 BC.
• It was the capital city of the Coriosolis.
• It was called Fanum Martis

3. Fanum Martis
• It was an important city :
• 11, 000 square metres
• 10, 000 inhabitants

4. • It was :
• an administration,
• a religious,
• a commercial centre.

5. • It was built like all the Roman Cities :
• Two main streets :
• The cardo : north – south
• The decumanus : east – west
At the junction were all the important buildings.

6. The shopping centre then,

7. The shopping centre now,

13. A domus
• It was the house of a rich Roman

14. • This domus was not far from the forum.
• It had :
• Central heating with a system called an
hypocaust
• This domus had a well
• It also had a private bath

18. The temple of Mars
• It is the biggest Roman temple found in
Britanny
• It is near from Fanum Martis

19. • The temple is organised around a big
courtyard : 5, 000 square metres.
• On one side there is just a wall.
• On three sides there were galleries.
• At the top is the cella.

20. • Pilgrims came and offered presents to
their Gods.
• The main God was Mars but people
worshipped Celtic Gods too.

26. The cella
• It was a sacred tower.
• Only the priests could go in.
• It was the house for the Statue of the
God Mars.

27. • The tower was 22 metres high.
• It was higher than the courtyard.
• There were steps to go up to it.
• In front of the tower was the altar
where they sacrified animals.

32. • Archeologists from INRAP are still
working in Corseul.
• They are still making discoveries.
• They are still asking questions about the
Romans