[Roman Glevum]. A Roman colonia in southwest England founded officially under Nerva (96-98 ad). Some six years after the invasion of 43 ad and as part of their conquest of southern England, the Romans established a legionary fortress in this general area, although its precise location is uncertain. Around 67 this was followed by a second fortress, this time on the site of Glevum itself. Probably during the 80s (certainly by 87) this was being converted into a town for veterans, later to become the official Colonia Nervia(na) Glevi. It achieved reasonable prosperity with a colonnaded forum, a basilica and pleasing houses with mosaic floors, and was still occupied in the early 5th century. Unfortunately very little survives in situ, but there is a good collection of material in the Gloucester City Museum, notable being the tombstone of Rufus Sita, an auxiliary cavalryman from Thrace.
The Macmillan dictionary of archaeology, Ruth D. Whitehouse, 1983Copied