Histria antiqua, Vol. 20 No. 20, 2011.
Original scientific paper
Everyday-life on the Pannonian Limes: Houses and Their Inner Decoration in Roman Brigetio (Komárom /Szőny, Hungary)
László Borhy
; Department of Classical and Roman Provincial Archaeology of the Eötvös Loránd University Múzeum krt. 4B H – 1088 Budapest
Abstract
Brigetio, currently known as Komárom/Szőny in Hungary, was one of the 4 legionary fortresses situated on the Danubian limes of the Roman province of Pannonia. The military complex was partially excavated in the first half of the 20th century, but the civilian settlement was archaeologically wholly untouched until 1992. This means, apart from the nearly 300 Latin inscriptions which belong to the approximately 400 years of Roman history of Brigetio and give important information on the administrative, religious, civilian, and military life of this town, we had absolutely no archaeological data on what this settlement looked like. The excavations that were started nearly 20 years ago have brought new light not only on the general system of the Roman municipium (insulae, streets and alleys, water and wastewater systems, houses and courtyards, public buildings), but also on their particular features. One of the most important discoveries of the excavations are the abundant wall paintings of very high quality from the middle of the 3rd century AD, which represent interesting symbolic themes, for example of time and space on a ceiling of a dining-room, or the representation of a feast on a wall painting. In addition, Dionysian themes appear which, together with the stucco-decoration of the side walls, are very impressive. On the basis of these discoveries, we can state that Brigetio, in spite of the fact that it was situated on the periphery of the Empire, in the north-eastern corner of the frontier of the Imperium Romanum, did not lack high-quality productions of Roman art.
Keywords
Pannonia; Brigetio; municipality; Roman houses; painted vault and wall; Andromeda; Pegasos; Four Seasons; feast; iconography
Hrčak ID:
79705
URI
Publication date:
1.10.2011.
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