Gamzigrad ( sr-Cyrl, , ) is an archaeological site, spa resort and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Serbia, located south of the Danube river, in the city of Zaječar. It is the location of the

ancient Roman In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC ...

complex of palaces and temples Felix Romuliana ( sr, / ), built by Emperor Galerius in Dacia Ripensis. The main area covers . The gate area., thumb Mosaic of Greek god Dionysus. Ruins of East Gate., thumb

History

In the vicinity of Gamzigrad lie the ruins of a huge Roman complex called ''Felix Romuliana'', one of the most important late Roman sites in Europe. Early explorers believed the ancient ruins to have been a Roman military camp, because of their size and numerous towers. Systematic archaeological excavations conducted since 1953 revealed that the site was, in fact, an Imperial palace. It was conceived and built by one of the

Tetrarchs The Tetrarchy was the system instituted by Roman emperor Diocletian in 293 AD to govern the ancient Roman Empire by dividing it between two emperors, the '' augusti'', and their juniors colleagues and designated successors, the ''caesares'' ...

, Emperor Galerius, the adopted son and son-in-law of the great Emperor

Diocletian Diocletian (; la, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, grc, Διοκλητιανός, Diokletianós; c. 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed ''Iovius'', was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Gaius Valerius Diocles ...

. Galerius started construction in 298 (after a victory over the

Sasanian Empire The Sasanian () or Sassanid Empire, officially known as the Empire of Iranians (, ) and also referred to by historians as the Neo-Persian Empire, was the History of Iran, last Iranian empire before the early Muslim conquests of the 7th-8th cen ...

that brought him admiration and glory) to mark the place of his birth. The name Felix Romuliana was given in memory of his mother Romula, who was also a priestess of a pagan cult. The complex of temples and palaces served three main purposes - a place of worship of his mother's divine personality, a monument to his deeds as emperor, and a luxurious villa for Galerius. Romuliana survived until it was plundered by the Huns in the mid 5th century. Later the site became a humble settlement of farmers and craftsmen, finally to be abandoned at the beginning of the 7th century with the arrival of the

Slavs Slavs are the largest European ethnolinguistic group. They speak the various Slavic languages, belonging to the larger Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages. Slavs are geographically distributed throughout northern Eurasia, main ...

. The structures were first evaluated in 1835 by Baron von Herder, a Saxon mine entrepreneur, in the "Bergmänische Reise in Serbie im Jahre 1835". Later the German mineralogist August Breithaupt also wrote an article about the constructions. The Austro-Hungarian naturalist, geographer, ethnographer and archaeologist Felix Philipp Kanitz (who has earned great respect in Serbia and Bulgaria through his works on the South Slavs) was especially interested in Gamzigrad and visited the ruins on two occasions, in 1860 and in 1864 when he drew the then condition of the ramparts and towers, included in his works on Serbia, printed in Vienna and Leipzig. The enthusiasm for Gamzigrad disappeared by the end of the 19th century. The real history of the complex was yet to be researched. The interest was revived in the 1950s during the period of "Neo-romanticism of Serbian archaeology". Vekoslav Popovic, Director of the Town Museum of Zajecar initiated the systematic archaeological research in 1953. The academic professor Dr.

Dragoslav Srejovic Dragoslav (Cyrillic: Драгослав) is a South Slavic masculine given name, derived from '' drag'' ("dear, beloved") and ''slava'' ("glory, fame"), both very common in Slavic dithematic names."Behind the Name", 's.v.'' https://www.behindthen ...

was in charge of the research in 1970, he is the one regarded as positioning the monument among world archaeology. The complex was demystified in 1984, when in the south-west an archivolt with the inscription of FELIX ROMULIANA was discovered.

Layout

Archaeological excavations on the site have unearthed the remains of a Roman compound with two temples, two palaces and a building with corridor including exceptionally fine

mosaics A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and were particularly pop ...

depicting the Greek mythological figures Dionysos and Medusa, figural capitals of Hercules, baths and impressive gates. Several valuable hoards of Roman gold coins have been unearthed at the site, which continues to yield important Roman artifacts. Pilasters of the emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, Licinius, Maximinus and Constantine are among spectacular finds. In the two mausolea on the Magura hill Romula and the founder Galerius were buried and deified. Among the most important finds from the site are portraits of Roman emperors made from porphyry and coins that help to accurately date the complex. A sculpture of

Diana Diana most commonly refers to: * Diana (name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Diana (mythology), ancient Roman goddess of the hunt and wild animals; later associated with the Moon * Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) ...

, the goddess of hunt, was unearthed in July 2010 by German and Serbian archeology teams, experts said that horse and a rider is missing which symbolizes victory over the barbarians. Alongside the Latin inscriptions throughout the complex, several Greek inscriptions are found. The northwestern part was renovated; basilicas were built, during the rule of Emperor Justinian

Northern part

Northern Temple

The temple is of the ''tetrastile prostilos'' type, similar to the Jupiter temple at Diocletian Palace in Split, built in 305 AD. The remains include a high podium, cross-shaped crypt, stairway and sacrificial altar. It was dedicated to goddess Libera The architrave, doorposts, podium and pillars were made of green sandstone, frieze of white limestone while the figural capitals were made of marble.

Palace One

The palace consists of an octagonal core building, three peristiles and a smaller bathroom. The vestibulum (accessory hall) is preserved with marble plate and pillars of green serpent brecha and red granite. The floor of the vestibulum is completely covered by a mosaic carpet with a labyrinth in its center and geometric motifs. The central hall (possible throne) is ornamented with geometrics and picturesque hunting scenes. The triclinum is ornamented with precious colorful stone tiles (opus sectile) and the entrance is ornamented with a luxurious mosaic with the image of the Greek god

Dionysus In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; grc, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity, and theatre. The Romans ...

. Parts of a sculpture of Galerius depicted as Pantocrator (ruler of Universe) have been found throughout the buildings, a left hand holding a globe of red porphyry was found in the triclinum, the head was found in the south-east of the complex. The Palace walls are covered with marble, green porphyry and frescoes. The marble sculptures depicting the Greek gods are made according to 5th and 4th century BC sculptural art.

Palace Two

The second palace and a building with a corridor has only been partially researched. A rectangular peristile in the center is surrounded by premises of different sizes and functions.

Preservation and tourism

During the 31st Session of the Unesco World Heritage Committee in Christchurch, New Zealand, from the 23rd of June to the second of July 2007, The World Heritage Committee decided to place Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius on the World Heritage Lis

Felix Romuliana is a popular tourist stop on the Roman Emperors Route, Roman Emperors' trail which links the birthplaces of over 17 Roman Emperors born on the territory of modern Serbia.

Spa resort

A modern-day spa resort, Gamzigradska Banja, is located nearby with a "special rehabilitation hospital".Gamzigrad Spa
, VisitSerbia.org

References

External links

Official Web pageFelix Romuliana
on YouTube
Zvezdan.hpage - Felix RomulianaSite of Felix Romuliana in Google Maps
{{Authority control 298 establishments 290s establishments in the Roman Empire Archaeological Sites of Exceptional Importance Galerius Populated places established in the 3rd century Populated places disestablished in the 7th century Roman Dacia Roman sites in Serbia Tourist attractions in Serbia World Heritage Sites in Serbia de:Galerius-Palast