National Geographic History - 09.2019 - 10.2019

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APPEARANCE

Dio Cassius describes Boudica as tall and imposing with a “great mass of the tawniest hair [that] fell to her hips.” Her gaze was “fierce.” 2

SACKED CITY

A 2001 excavation of Camulodunum (Colchester) found evidence of burned structures dating to the time of Boudica’s sacking of the capital.

When depicting people from the past, artists often turn to historical documents and archaeology in search of details about someone’s features, garments, and possessions. To create a portrait of Boudica for the cover of ILLUSTRATION: ALMUDENA CUESTA

National Geographic History

,

WARRIOR QUEENthe artist turned to the ancient accounts of Roman historians (in particular, the second- and third-century Greco-Roman author Dio Cassius) and archaeological evidence to create a vivid depiction of the Iceni queen.

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FEARSOME STANCE

Dio Cassius wrote of Boudica’s intimidating presence: “She grasped a spear to aid her in terrifying all beholders.”

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BLAST OF A CARNYX

On British battlefields from the first century

A.

D.

, archaeologists

have found remains of a long horn, called a carnyx, which Boudica’s forces carry here. 4

A GOOD OMEN

The pelt alludes to a ritual described by Dio Cassius, in which Boudica releases a live hare, whose choice of direction predicts the battle’s outcome.

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REPLICA

OF THE DESKFORD CARNYX,

FOUND IN SCOTLAND BETWEEN

A.D. 80 AND 200NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND