Baelo Claudia

Bill Bowman
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Baelo Claudia
Baelo Claudia

Located north of the Strait of Gibraltar in southern Spain, Baelo Claudia was a Roman town established 2200 years ago for fishing, fish salting, and garum production (fermented fish sauce), as well as for trade with North Africa. Tuna from the North Atlantic migrating into the Mediterranean Sea to spawn provided productive fishing opportunities. Tuna were brought to Baelo Claudia where they were cleaned and soaked in brine for preservation, and shipped throughout the Roman empire.

The pillars in the photo were part of the basilica, a building used for administration and as a judicial center. The site also contains remnants of multiple temples, some to traditional Roman gods, but others to more “fringe” gods including the Egyptian goddess Isis. There are also ruins of a sizable forum and theater. These buildings indicate the wealth of the town and its high value to the Romans. Most of the building stone used was local limestone; some of the blocks have fossils on their surfaces.

Baelo Claudia reached its pinnacle around the 2nd century AD, but several factors contributed to its decline afterward, including an earthquake, the general decline in Roman military strength, and marauding pirates. The town was abandoned by the 6th century. The site was excavated and partially restored mainly in the 20th century, and excavation and reconstruction are ongoing. Baelo Claudia is one of the best examples of a Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula.

Several large transport ships are visible on the ocean in the distance- this stretch near the junction of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea remains a busy place for commercial marine traffic. In the distance (behind the oleander), partly shrouded by the marine layer, is the African continent (Morocco).

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Taken on: November 4, 2022
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Sets appears in:   • Spain/ Morocco    • Water   
Groups appears in:   • Architecture Unlimited   
Camera: Sony ILCE-7RM4, f/10.0, 1/640 sec, 65mm (=97mm), ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Sony ILCE-7RM4
Lens: FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Aperture: f/10.0
Exposure Time: 0.002 sec (1/640)
Focal Length: 65mm (35mm equivalent: 97mm)
ISO: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Program AE
Exposure Mode: Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Auto
Contrast: High
Color Space: Uncalibrated
Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 12.0.1 (Macintosh)
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