| A. Postern Gate. | G. Site of Return Wall. |
| B. Decuman Gate. | H. Site of Tower. |
| C. Tower. | I. Surface of Subterranean Building. |
| D. Circular Tower. | |
| E. & F. Towers. |
Fig. 261.—From A Short Account of the Records of Richborough (W.D.).
A rose coin of Rhoda was reproduced ante, [page 339]; the rhoda or rose, like the rood, is a universal symbol of love, and with Rodau’s Town, Canterbury, or Durovernon, which is permeated with the rose of St. George, or Oros, i.e., rose, may be connoted the neighbouring Rutupiae, now Richborough. From the ground-plan of this impressive ruin it will be seen to be unlike anything else in Europe, inasmuch as it originally consisted of a quadrangle surrounding a massive rood or cross imposed upon a titanic foundation.[477]
With Rutupiae, of which the Rutu may be connoted with the rood within its precincts, Mr. Roach Smith, in his Antiquities of Richborough, connotes the Gaulish people known as the Ruteni. The same authority quotes Malebranche as writing “all that part of the coast which lies between Calais and Dunkirk our seamen now call Ruthen,” whence it is exceedingly likely that the Reading Street near Broadstairs, and the Rottingdean near Brighton were originally inhabited by children of Reada or Rota.
Apparently “Rotuna” was in some way identified in Italy with Britain, or natione Britto, for according to Thomas an inscription was discovered at Rome, near Santa Maria Rotuna, bearing in strange alphabetical characters Natione Britto, somewhat analogous at first sight to Hebrew, Greek, or Phœnician letters.[478]
From the plan it will be seen that the northern arm of the Rutupian rood points directly to the high road, and Rutupiæ itself constitutes the root or radical of the great main route leading directly through Rodau’s Town, and Rochester to London Stone. The arms of Rochester or Durobrivum—where, as will be remembered, is a Troy Town—are St. Andrew on his roue Or rota.
Fig. 262.—Arms of Rochester.