Hi, IndieDB community !
Welcome to our first article of our new video game called Bracara Augusta Shadow of the Past.
Our game takes inspiration in the real Bracara Augusta Roman city, so let us present a bit of its history. Bracara Augusta is the Roman city that exists, in ruins, beneath the Portuguese city of Braga. When the Cantabrian Wars ended, finishing the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula and with the Pax Romana in place, the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus creates 3 cities in the Northeast: Bracara Augusta, Lucus Augusti and Asturica Augusta.
Bracara Augusta was founded between the XV/XVI century, in the Bracari region, between the Lima river and Ave river. The name of the city comes from the people that lived in that territory: Bracara and a tribute to the Emperor that created the city: Augusta.
Image 1: Map of the Iberian Peninsula, The red dot is the location of Bracara Augusta
Image 2: Map of the Bracara Augusta city
Bracara Augusta was founded between the XV/XVI century, in the Bracari region, between the Lima river and Ave river. The name of the city comes from the people that lived in that territory: Bracara and a tribute to the Emperor that created the city: Augusta.
During the centuries, Bracara Augusta becomes an important city, even reaching the title of capital of the Gallaecia Province. As an imperial city, it developed its commercial, juridical, religious, politics and administrative departments which lead to an increase of building dedicated to entertainment.
After the Suebi/Visigoth invasion, the city was gradually abandoned and next to it the medieval city of Braga flourished. Many of the ruins of Bracara Augusta were destroyed so that the materials could be used to build the new city.
In the most recent years, XIX/XX century, every time a building needed to be construct or was rebuild, lead to the appearance of new ruins that were buried under the current city of Braga. A good example is the coffee shop: "Frigideiras do Cantinho" (roughly translated as : Frying pan of the corner), where we can see beneath our feet some ruins remains of a insula (house).
Image 3 : Coffee Shop " Frigideiras do Cantinho"
Image 4: Roman ruins beneath the coffee shop
Image 5: City's aspect nowadays
To summarize, this week we were focused on gathering references and historical facts to aid us in the recreation of this ancient city.
Ah! and we are starting the overall drawing of the game aspect, but that is something for another day.
Have a nice week
Stay safe!
Ave Bracara Augusta
Marema Studios
See you in the next article