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ERGEBNISSE ARCHÄOLOGISCHER FORSCHUNGEN VON ANTIKEN LOKALITÄTENIN VARAŽDINSKE TOPLICE
Branka Vikić - Belančić
Sažetak
Numerous mineral wells in Varaždinske Toplice have stimulated and determined and thermal character of the ancient settlement »Aquae lasse«. The thick layers of sediment conditioned the specific terraced configuration of the Toplice Hill. The favourable position on the crossroads of older routes, running from the East to the West and from the North to the South, suited both the lUiryans (lassi) and, later, the Romans. The urbanisation in this area started in the early period of the Roman Empire.
In the span of thirty years of systematic excavations and research in Aquae lassae (1953 to 1982) several parts of the roman settlement were found. On the upper terraces, in the centralpark of todays Varaždinske Tophce, where the main thermal well was situated, the official and the religious buildings were errected, whereas the Southern slope and the foot of the Toplice Hill occupied the dwelling, commercial and craft quarters, which spread to the valley of Bednja.
The mentioned configuration of the land and the disposition of the architecture complexes left an imprint on the modern settlements as well.
While the official parts of the Roman settlement had a monumental and representative character, with thermal complexes, Forum and Captioline temples, the dwelling and commercial
part was far more modest in the technique of building and the disposition of the ground plan, as well as in the assortment of the archeological material.
The systematic research has displayed, that the living had building activities in Aquae lassae were very intense during four centuries (from the r*"'. to the end of the 4^ \ century).
The development and the building phases can be observed on the complexes of the thermae, on the Forum and Capitolium. The importance and lucretiveness of this balneological center rose constantly and eventually reached the highest point during the rule of Constantinus I (306-336), when Aquae lassae were rebuilt and restored (the inscription of Constantinus the Great with data was found in the park in 19. century). At the time. Aquae lassae became
well-known far over the border of Pannonia Superior.
Many stone monuments with inscription, beautiful reHefs and details of decorations were found during the last two centuries, and especially during systematic excavations in the park and
its neighborhood. A great number of altars and marble plates were dedicated to different deities, especially to the Nyphes (one of them to »Nyphis lassis«). Among sculptures, the most important is the monumental marble statue of goddes Minerva, discovered in her temple, with a postament and incription. It is as masterpiece from beginning of the 2" . century. Numerous fragments of colums, pillars, pilasters, capitals, bases, etc. show high standard of handycraft skill and art.
The very long tradition of Aquae lassae shows what a great importance the sulphuric wells had for the settlement, and the epigraphic monuments revel the dedicants from different parts
of the Roman Empire and from various classes of society: vSoldiers and officers of higher ranks, administrative officials, office-clerks, local provincial officers governers and even emperors.
Moreover, the native artisans gave their contribution, especially in the way of building woodenoak houses founded on pilots, with very elongated ground-plan, divided into several rectangular rooms, with fir-wood floors and fireplaces.
The result of 30 years of archeological excavations in Varaždinske Toplice have enlighted the complex character of this balneological cultural centre to which streamed not only the settlements and the towns in the Southwest Panonia and neighboring areas, but also the cities of the remote parts of the Roman Empire.
In the late 4 \ century, probably during the war between Emperor Teodosius and the invader Maximus, destruction of the entire settlement took place.
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
135006
URI
Datum izdavanja:
5.12.1996.
Posjeta: 1.429 *