A Roman Watchtower

Gaieus · 17 Oct 2010, 10:17

Some of you may know that every year I go to this re-enectment camp with kids and Roman soldiers and such. Now this Roman legion (legio I Adiutrix in Brigetio, Pannonia) wants to build something that they believe a Roman watchtower would have looked like on the Danubian frontier.

I helped them "visualize" what it could look like and give the architects some clue what they should design (so of course I won't make real construction documents as they would probably wish the building not to collapse during the first winter).

Here is something we generally find left of such a watchtower: the walls and a big, stone square in the middle.

Now there are debates what that middle piece is for but most probably that is just the foundation for a timber frame which - in the middle of the tower - would support the different floors, stairs and the roofing on top.

And a render with the fosses all around (Roman soldiers from the 3D Warehouse)

(Rendered with Twilight "Easy 8" exterior progressive within about an hour)

Rich O Brien · 17 Oct 2010, 11:14

Thanks for sharing

Should've put the watchmen all along the watchtower and two riders approaching

leedeetee · 17 Oct 2010, 15:43

Really nice Gai, and an interesting read to boot.

Gaieus · 17 Oct 2010, 18:19

Rich, the file is high poly enough from this half dozen guys!
They're only there to give scale and atmosphere not for a battle scene!

I may even make some LO documents for the guys - I have never used LO (for a real project) anyway!

Rich O Brien · 17 Oct 2010, 20:12

@gaieus said:

Rich, the file is high poly enough from this half dozen guys!
They're only there to give scale and atmosphere not for a battle scene!

They're lyrics to a Jimi Hendrix/Bob Dylan song....

[flash=640,480:20xga8lt]http://www.youtube.com/v/OmwFRvKYZNs[/flash:20xga8lt]

Roger · 18 Oct 2010, 06:52

That central pad was to support the "elevictoriax", a hand-cranked elevator used to lift food and other supplies rather than having to climb the exposed exterior stairs with unwieldy loads during bad weather or barbarian attacks.

Frederik · 18 Oct 2010, 09:05

I saw Fletch had added some trees in PP...

I also added some trees in post pro...

Ross Macintosh · 18 Oct 2010, 10:34

Csaba - Common sense (if there is such a thing) might suggest the upper windows likely did not have that type of shutter protruding into the limited circulation space of balcony.

Would the exterior stair have been equipped with a pivot so it could be drawn up?

Daniel · 18 Oct 2010, 16:12

Great looking rendering, Gaieus. Would a watch tower be taller than that, though? One wouldn't be able to see beyond the trees from there.

tomislavm · 19 Oct 2010, 12:43

Nice idea Gai, I like it!

Gaieus · 19 Oct 2010, 14:06

Roger, I also thought of that but the guys (8who want to build it) resisted...

Ross: About the upper windows; you must be right. I created a scene in 3DVIA and when I succeeded to climb up, I could not walk around. I will suggest this to the guys, too.

Daniel: no-one really knows. As they used to be on hill-tops looking over the river (where possible), maybe not.

And yes, Fletch seems to have slept too much last night!

Bryan K · 20 Oct 2010, 06:43

Very cool.