Featured pieces of the Caesaraugusta Route Museums
Let's discover the star pieces of the four Roman museums located in the Historic Center of Zaragoza.
A city founded by Augustus, first emperor of Rome
Caesaraugusta is the only Roman city that enjoyed the privilege of bearing the full name of its founder, Caesar Augustus. Founded in the last quarter of the 1st century BC, it received the status of an immune colony of Roman citizens.
Bowl (714 - 1492)Original Source: Ceres. On line collections
From this Roman heritage arise the four museums that are part of the Caesaragusta Route: the Theater Museum, the Museum of Public Baths, the River Port Museum and the Forum Museum. Keep reading to learn about his most emblematic works!
Theater Museum
The discovery of the Roman theater of Zaragoza in 1972 was a fortuitous discovery when the construction of a building on Verónica Street began. Built during the 1st century AD, during the time of Emperor Tiberius, the theater is the best preserved monument in Caesaraugusta.
Head of princess Julio-Claudia (1 - 50 a.C.)Original Source: Ceres. On line collections
Head of Princess Julio-Claudia
This piece was recovered during the archaeological excavation work of the Caesaraugusta theater. It has been considered that, in its original position, it would be part of the decoration of the stage front of said theater, perhaps within an program of imperial portraits.
Dea Roma (25 - 75 a.C.)Original Source: Ceres. On line collections
Goddess Rome
This female bust made of marble from the French Pyrenees appears dressed in a short tunic, or jiitón, that covers her body from the left shoulder, diagonally, to the waist. It must have belonged to a sculpture of colossal size, designed to be seen from the front.
Capital (27 b.C - 284 a.C.)Original Source: Ceres. On line collections
Alabaster capital
The abacus with fractured decorative elements is also preserved in this Corinthian capital. The acanthus leaves show broken tips that would curve outwards. It is believed that it would probably form part of the theater's stage front structure.
Cup (714 - 1492)Original Source: Ceres. On line collections
Cup
This ceramic cup made on a wheel and linked to Jewish culture is partially reconstructed. During the Sabbath dinner, the head of the family passed the cup of blessed wine to everyone gathered at the table.
Museum of Public Baths
In the center of the city, between the forum and the theater, there were thermal baths, whose activity spanned from the 1st century BC. until the beginning of the 4th century AD. The hot springs, in addition to being a place for cleansing the body, became a center of social and cultural life.
Pool (50 - 300 a.C.)Original Source: Ceres. On line collections
Natatio
This large open-air porticoed pool, with a rectangular plan, could have reached 16 meters in length, although only 9.7 meters are preserved. One of the short sides is finished in the shape of a lobed apse.
The entire perimeter of the pool is surrounded by 3 steps and the bottom was covered with rectangular marble slabs. From the portico that surrounded the pool, whose height is estimated between 5-6 m, the remains of three column bases and several of their supports are preserved.
River Port Museum
The preserved monumental complex, which was part of the forum, consists of several openings belonging to a façade of arches, through which there was access to a vestibule where a staircase connected the port docks with the city forum.
Stairs in the River Port MuseumThe Route of the Museums of Caesaraugusta
Stairs
These stairs bridged the gap that existed between the bank of the Ebro River (Hiberus for the Romans) and the northeastern end of the Forum. They were built by the founding legions of the city, and their marks can still be found on them.
Amphora (50)Original Source: Ceres. On line collections
Trade amphorae
The Ebro River was navigable in ancient times from the city of Vareia (Logroño) and piers and ports were located on its banks. Various examples of amphorae are preserved that transported imported products that would travel up the river to the Mediterranean.
Amphora (50)Original Source: Ceres. On line collections
Trade amphorae
In some works on Reconquista Street in 1998, 18 amphorae were found. They were used to raise the land (in some areas, up to 7 meters) to protect itself from the usual floods of the Ebro at a time when, furthermore, there were no swamps.
Forum Museum
Located under the current Plaza de la Seo, the forum was the center of religious, civil, economic, administrative and political life in the Roman city.
Maximum sewer of the Forum MuseumThe Route of the Museums of Caesaraugusta
Cloaca Maxima
It is the most important sewer in the city in Roman times. It has a dimension of 2.64 m and a width of 1.78 m and collected waste and rainwater until it finally drained into the Ebro River. You can walk through it, which would greatly miss our ancestors.
Mosaico de la MusaThe Route of the Museums of Caesaraugusta
Mosaic of the Muses
It is a pavement from the 19th century. II measuring 8.30 x 5.90 meters discovered in 1989 near the Central Market. It is part of a Roman house located next to the walls. In a corner a muse appears with the tablets and writing style associated with Clío, muse of history.
Torso (Camillus) (40 - 50 a.C.)Original Source: Ceres. On line collections
Camillus
The figure represents an indeterminate male character, possibly a young adolescent assistant in cult ceremonies and sacrifices who is identified with the generic name of Camillus.
Forum Museum: Plaza de la Seo, 2.
Museum of Public Baths: C/ San Juan y San Pedro, 5.
River Port Museum: Plaza San Bruno, 8.
Theater Museum: C/ San Jorge, 12.
Schedule:
Tuesday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday and holidays: from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Closed Monday.
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.