Nîmes is a Southern city full of palm trees, fancy shops, pedestrian roads and plazas, and lots of history. Nîmes was located on the Via Domitia, a Roman road constructed in 118 BC which connected Italy to Spain.
Our guide book directed us to a few Roman houses in the main shopping district.
Nîmes is a popular tourist attraction and I can see why.
There are crocodiles everywhere in Nîmes. To understand the origin of the town’s coat of arms one has to travel to Egypt. In 31 BC, Octavius defeated Anthony and Cleopatra’s fleet in the battle of Actium, and ensured Roman control of the Empire. Caesar Augustus was born.
A coin was struck in Nîmes to celebrate the event. On the reverse side was a crocodile chained to a palm tree surmounted by a laurel wreath, symbolizing the conquest of Egypt.
The inscription “Col Nem”, the Colony of Nîmes, suggests that victorious legionaries had been granted land near Nîmes. But in fact Nîmes was simply the place where the coin was minted. Over the centuries, the people of Nîmes became attached to these relatively common coins.
In 1535 they were authorized by king François 1 to adopt the palm tree and the crocodile as the town’s coat of arms. Since then the inhabitants have been extremely proud of their crest.
Redesigned in 1986 by Philippe Starck, it can be found all over the town, even in the bronze studs set in the paving of the old town.
A coin was struck in Nîmes to celebrate the event. On the reverse side was a crocodile chained to a palm tree surmounted by a laurel wreath, symbolizing the conquest of Egypt.
The inscription “Col Nem”, the Colony of Nîmes, suggests that victorious legionaries had been granted land near Nîmes. But in fact Nîmes was simply the place where the coin was minted. Over the centuries, the people of Nîmes became attached to these relatively common coins.
In 1535 they were authorized by king François 1 to adopt the palm tree and the crocodile as the town’s coat of arms. Since then the inhabitants have been extremely proud of their crest.
Redesigned in 1986 by Philippe Starck, it can be found all over the town, even in the bronze studs set in the paving of the old town.
One of the gates at the entrance to Jardin des Fountaines in Nîmes.
Phillip Starck design
Fierce crocodiles on fountain. I cut the fiercest crocodile out of the photo by accident; the sun was shining so brightly that I couldn't see the screen of my phone.
This is a view from the art gallery includes a lovely graffiti crocodile. We enjoyed our day in Nîmes and learned a lot about its Roman history.
You should come to Jordan and see the Roman history here! It's amazing! The girls could climb over ancient ruins in Jerash and you'd really be able to visualize how the Roman's lived. The ruins here are better than they are in Rome :-)
ReplyDelete