Histria antiqua, Vol. 21 No. 21, 2012.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
The Role of Maritime Villas in Seafaring in the Adriatic
Vlasta BEGOVIĆ
; Institute for Archeology Gajeva 32 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ivančica SCHRUNK
; University of St. Thomas St. Paul, 55105 Minnesota, USA
Sažetak
Maritime villas visibly stood out in the landscape and were important, marked orientation points. They had
watchtowers (mentioned by Pliny the Younger) with panoramic views, from which important maritime routes
and the channels between the islands and mainland could be controlled. In addition to their economic and
residential purpose, they also played an important role in navigation in general along the eastern Adriatic coast. Villas also
had safe and protected ports, supplies of food and water for ships and facilities for repairing vessels and ship equipment. Ports
for ships in transit were located at a certain distance from the villas. Such examples included Soline and Palmižana on the
island of St. Clement near Hvar, the bays of Verige and Madona on the Brijuni islands, Veli and Mali Lago and Ubli Bay on
the island of Lastovo, etc. In the first centuries of Roman rule, luxury villas were built by senatorial families and high-ranking
commanders of the Roman military, especially the navy. They were linked with urban centres, with which they formed
a network of navigation and stopping points. They were located in strategically important places on maritime routes and
played an important role in signaling as we can see from the Roman wall paintings (maritime villas with light houses) from
Pompeii and Stabiae. There was an important difference in the use of maritime villas in the Early Empire with their strong
economic role, as opposed to Late Antiquity, when their defense role was essential. In that time they played an important
role in securing the vitally important navigation routes in the Adriatic and in supplying and accommodating military units
villas were still central elements in the landscape of the eastern Adriatic coast, as described by Cassiodorus (Variae, XII, 22).
Ključne riječi
maritime villas; 1st – 6th century; Roman Empire; strategic role; maritime routes; Eastern Adriatic coast
Hrčak ID:
102443
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.8.2012.
Posjeta: 1.937 *