Mediana

In topography, there is clear and distinct division of settlement in the northern and southern part, while the bordering part is the route of the Roman road (via publica) Nais - Serdica. In architectural aspect, one may differentiate certain individual parts of Mediana, which mutually differ according to their organization, function, decoration and time of construction.

The excavations that were carried out at Mediana from 2000 to 2011 significantly changed knowledge about the complex and enabled significant revision of certain views concerning architecture, sculptures, frescoes and mosaics. In that way, it was possible to separate three horizons of construction, namely: horizon 1 (end of the 3rd - beginning of the 4th century), horizon 2 (around 330-378) and horizon 3 (about 383-441).

It was confirmed that most of the horizon 1 was deliberately destroyed for the purpose of building the entire complex at Mediana, to which belongs a large group of buildings. End of the horizon 2 is characterized by a strong fire and destruction of the original residential complex at Mediana. On the remains was formed an entirely new type of settlement. In the horizon 3, new buildings were built around the barracks and villa with peristyle, and some parts of the villa have undergone changes.

As much as it can be determined at this stage of the research, the settlement that was created after demolition of the residential complex has characteristics of a rural community. That settlement was also destroyed, that time in overrun of the Huns, probably immediately in 441, when Nais was also conquered, which is also supported by numismatic finds at Mediana.

Byzantine writer Procopius in Panegyric on construction at the time of Justinian mentions Mediana, but in the area that was intensively researched no traces of the 6th century have been found. It is possible that only fortification or fortified  villa was rebuilt (?) on Vlaško brdo, across the residential complex (now under the Electronic Industry buildings).

In interpreting the Mediana complex one should start from the fact that Mediana was built and perhaps received the status of vicus probably at the end of the 3rd century, with bigger number of individual villas and their respective estates. Excavations have shown that at the area now occupied by the villa with peristyle, as well as at the area around horeum and between barracks and villa enclosure, there were buildings that had been deliberately destroyed and leveled.

On their remains a new building complex was built. Somewhere, under the walls of younger structures, remains of an older architectural horizon have been observed, but for now, there are no records that there were built houses at Mediana before the end of the 3rd century. Comprehensive and expensive works, demolitions and reconstructions could have been carried out only by a very rich person of high rank.

Power of the customer who ordered the major reconstruction and decoration is also confirmed by construction of water tower, which supplied with water exclusively the complex of buildings at Mediana. According to Ammiano Marcellino’s writings about the two brothers‘ stay and division of the army, one can conclude that Mediana was the imperial estate.

The concept of administration headquarters and residence of Emperor required halls for state receptions, rooms for reception and entertainment of foreign rulers and deputies followed by large number of people from the emperor’s environment. Such halls had to be of much larger dimensions compared to those at the private citizens’ houses, regardless how rich and powerful they were.

In addition, the emperor’s presence also involved receiving of applications and appeals, conducting the state legal affairs and adoption of laws and other state regulations. Accordingly, there had to be special space for those activities within the palace during the late antiquity (4th-5th century). Such concept can be found exactly in Mediana.

After the monarchy had been established, Constantine’s builders began construction of public buildings throughout the Empire, and the Emperor himself was preoccupied with establishing new capital and palace on the Bosphorus. Within the general representation of the Emperor, it was necessary to decorate and mark the place of his birth and prepare it as it is appropriate for an inviolable monarch.

Sovereignty and prestige, but also the royal origin, had to be marked in accordance with already existing values   expressed in residences and villas owned by Diocletian (Split), Gallerius (Romuliana - Gamzigrad), as well as by other dignitaries. Narrowness and overpopulation of the ancient fortified town of Nais hindered erection of monumental constructions or thorough reconstruction of the existing infrastructure.

Imperial domain, occupying dominant place at Mediana, on the route via publica was extremely convenient for demonstrating the dynastic power and origin. The works were extensive, fast, but also consistent with preparations for  celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of his rule. After the reconstruction completion, the appearance was completely changed, as well as the meaning of the central space at Mediana.

Its public, administrative and private characters were featured simultaneously. By using featured elements in architecture and decoration, the existing building was transformed into the residence with all attributes contained in the adjective “imperial”. Despite the fragmentary preserved pieces of the Constantine’s villa with peristyle architecture, the major part of which has been researched, the building appearance may be restored with some certainty.

It is possible that the above reconstruction also includes placing the sculpture of Dea Dardaniae, the homeland deity (deapatriae), in the entrance area, with a clear message about the importance and origin of the dynasty, that is, its founder Constantius Chlorus from prominent Dardanian family. Private character of the residence was emphasized by building the stibadia A and B, as well as linking the northern rooms with the existing thermae.

Constantine the Great placed such collections in the new capital, Constantinople. In his wish to adorn it, he ordered the big number of ancient monuments to be brought from the main cities of Greece and Asia Minor, as it was also the case at Mediana.

In that way, classical education enabled the owner of the villa at Mediana, while at the same time looking at sculptures and mosaics and comparing them with literary culture, to create a harmonious relationship with foundations of the living Roman tradition and many virtues that participated in its creation. Thus coexistence of the pagan and Christian ideas has been shown in the best way, especially in regard to the works of art.

Last pages of the late antique history had been written in the late 4th and early 5th century, by bringing the Gothic foederati to the imperial estate, where they established their settlement. Low level of construction techniques knowledge and secondary used building material from demolished antique walls indicate reduction and change of use of certain parts of the existing residential complex.

It has to do with construction using pebbles in dry stone wall or mud mortar and combining it with wooden construction. In that period of life at Mediana, it is also expressed Christian appurtenance of the newly arrived population, which is clearly reflected in architectural remains of two small single-nave Early Christian churches.
Both churches have been erected over the remains of the older antique horizon. The churches are oriented east-west, with the altar apse in the east.

They are leaning against one of the rooms in western military barracks. In architecture of the churches, building material from demolished antique buildings was used secondarily, combined with wooden architecture that has traditionally been known to the new users. Regarding the typology, those are two smaller single-nave buildings with apse in the east.

Composition consists of white rectangular field inside which motif of the Christ’s monogram is inscribed with double row of red tesserae and framing bordure in the form of wider band made of gray tesserae. The northern church is located at eight meter distance and has smaller dimensions. There are clear traces of seats in the apse (synthronos), which presumably was made of wooden structure.

The altar area is slightly higher than the nave floor, while de-leveling of the floor is accentuated by a series of arranged fragments of antique brick. Along northern facade of the nave, some space was built that could serve both as proscomidia and diaconicon. In that room, along the nave wall, fragmented pottery used for the liturgy purpose was found.

Refinement of taste and attitude towards art is best illustrated by finding of the bronze railing fragments in the hoard discovered about 250 m northwest of the villa with peristyle. The railing consisted of panels (cancelli), between which stood hermae with statues of deities. In the hoard have been preserved three panels, one half of the panel cast together with herma, herma with a bust of Asclepius and herma with the bust of Luna.