Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana

World Heritage Site Gamzigrad – Romuliana, Palace of Galerius

By Archeological Sites of Serbia

Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

The archaeological site Gamzigrad–Romuliana is situated in the vicinity of the village of Gamzigrad in the territory of the municipality of Zaječar in eastern Serbia. It is located on a plateau surrounded on three sides by a rolling landscape which forms a shallow amphitheatre. On the north side the plateau descends gradually to the Crni Timok River.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

The exceptional importance of Gamzigrad as an archaeological site was recognized as early as the middle of the nine-tenth century. Geologists, historians and archaeologists who travelled in that part of Serbia described it and interpreted it as „the remains of one of the most splendid edifices of the past“.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Maja Djordjevic and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

One of them, the Austrian-Hungarian traveler Felix Kanitz, made, in 1864 and 1869, drawings of it in support of his assertion that „one of the largest and best preserved Roman buildings in Europe“ was located in that place. At the end of the nineteenth century the Romantic fascination with Gamzigrad as the ruins of an ancient town was replace by a restrained, strictly rational attitude, and it was interpreted as a military camp or the seat of the governor of the mines in the surrounding area.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

This simplified view of Gamzigrad persisted until the middle of the twentieth century, when systematic archaeological investigations were initiated. The excavations, which began in 1953 and are still in progress, have shown that Gamzigrad was in fact a sumptuous palace, one of the most representative and most elaborate monuments of Roman court architecture.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

The view that this structure was a representative palace was confirmed when the fragment of a sandstone archivolt bearing the carved inscription FELIX ROMULIANA was discovered in the southwest part of the place. This find proved that Gamzigrad was one of the imperial palaces, belonging to the same category of monuments of Roman court architecture as Diocletian’s palace in Split.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Pavle Marjanovic and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

This archaeological discovery supplemented and corroborated the comparatively scant historical sources which refer to Romuliana. It is mentioned in the Epitomae, a work written c. 360 AD by an anonymous author and attributed to Aurelius Victor, and in Procopius’s De Aedificiis, dating from around 555 AD.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Maja Djordjevic and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

Pseudo-Aurelius Victor says that the Roman Emperor Galerius (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.) was born and buried in Dacia Ripensis, in a place which he named Romuliana after his mother Romula. Procopius’s work refers to Romuliana in passing only, in a list of castles restored by Justinian in the region of the town of Aquae.

Another proof corroborating the identification of this fortified palace was the discovery in 1993 of a porphyry head, a portrait with imperial insignia, which was undoubtedly, part of a monumental sculpture of the emperor. This find shows that Romuliana was the residence of the Roman Emperor Gaius Valerius Galerius Maximian.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Maja Djordjevic and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

In the early stages of the excavations it was assumed that Romuliana consisted of a fortified palace only. However, when the archaeological explorations were extended, between 1989. and 1993, to include the nearby hill Magura, it became apparent that that area, too, was a part of the palatial complex. The excavations showed that Magura was a sacred hill and that its top had been a site greatly venerated from prehistoric times and that it was the scene of the burial and apotheosis of Galerius and his mother Romula.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Pavle Marjanovic and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

Magura is a high elongated ridge, over which ran the main road to Romuliana. In 1990 the remains of a monumental tetrapylon were discovered in a place which commands an extensive view of Romuliana. Associated with this tetrapylon were two mounds and two  mausolea, found to the south of it, on the top of Magura.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Maja Djordjevic and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

It was established that these remains were in a direct spatial, historical and functional relationship with the fortified palace. All this shows that the architectural complex Gamzigrad–Romuliana was built by Emperor Gaius Valerius Galerius Maximian, Diocletian’s successor in the time of the second tetrarchy, i.e. in the late third and early fourth century A.D.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Pavle Marjanovic and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

The inspiration for the construction of this fortified palace can be found in the program of the tetrarchical form of government. According to this ideological program, the emperor was to step down from the throne after twenty years of reign an retire after the celebration of his vicennalia.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Pavle Marjanovic and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

Galerius’s wanted to follow Diocletian, his ideological father and an emperor in the preceding tetrarchy, and build a fortified palace in the place where he was born and where he intended to spend his life after retirement. Galerius could devote himself to the building of his palace only after his great victory over King Narseh of Persia in 298 A.D.

Then Galerius, who had the titles of Caesar, successor and adopted son of Diocletian, initiated the work on the construction of his palace. The inner fortifications of the complex, the palace in its nortwest part and a small temple were built in this phase of construction. After the death of Constantius Chlorus in 306, Galerius became the most powerful figure in the Roman Empire.

In view of these new circumstances, the original plan of the palace seemed too modest. The parts already built were abandoned, and work began on the building of a considerably more monumental and representative fortified palace, which included the already  built up area. The large temple dedicated to Jupiter in the south part of the complex belongs to this period of renewed building activity.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Maja Djordjevic and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

This new phase is characterized by even more sumptuous decorative elements executed in a variety of materials.  The precise date of the memorial structure on the hill of Magura is not possible to establish. Galerius had two mausolea erected for his mother and himself, near which consecration memorials in the form of mounds were built. 

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Pavle Marjanovic and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

The consecration memorials were associated with the act of apotheosis, i.e. of the symbolical elevation of a person to the rank of a god. Archaeological evidence shows that the rite included cremation. After Galerius’s death in 311, life went on in the palace, but without imperial ceremoniousness.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana, Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Maja Djordjevic, Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.), 3–4th century, From the collection of: Archeological Sites of Serbia
,
Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis, Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.), 3–4th century, From the collection of: Archeological Sites of Serbia
,
Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis, Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.), 3–4th century, From the collection of: Archeological Sites of Serbia
,
Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis, Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.), 3–4th century, From the collection of: Archeological Sites of Serbia
Show lessRead more

The rooms in the palace and the other buildings were reconstructed and their use was altered. The slow decay lasted until the expansion of Christianity in middle of the fifth century, when the great hall of the palace was converted into an aisled basilica. A building constructed next to the east facade of the palace dates from that period. It has an atrium in the middle and an apsidal space with a small marble basin, probably a baptismal font.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

Some towers belonging to the system of fortifications were converted into agglomerations of workshops producing objects necessary for the life of the new inhabitants of the palace. Archaeological evidence from the fourth century and the first half of the fifth century indicates that Romuliana was an important settlement at that time, perhaps even the residence of some eminent person from the court.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

The middle of the fifth century was a period of great destruction and fires, probably caused by the invasion of the Huns. In the course of the second half of the fifth century and in the sixth century Romuliana was rebuilt, but its earlier beauty was irretrievably lost. The buildings constructed at that time were of more modest dimensions and rather poorly built.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis, Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.), 3–4th century, From the collection of: Archeological Sites of Serbia
,
Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis, Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.), 3–4th century, From the collection of: Archeological Sites of Serbia
,
Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis, Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.), 3–4th century, From the collection of: Archeological Sites of Serbia
,
Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis, Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.), 3–4th century, From the collection of: Archeological Sites of Serbia
,
Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis, Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.), 3–4th century, From the collection of: Archeological Sites of Serbia
,
Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis, Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.), 3–4th century, From the collection of: Archeological Sites of Serbia
Show lessRead more

In the time of Emperor Justinian of Byzantium there was more extensive building activity at Gamzigrad. This is testified by contemporary authors who refer to Romuliana as one of the towns restored by the emperor. Some major reconstructions of the existing structures and alterations in the general layout of Gamzigrad date from that period. Within the palace was erected a monumental aisled basilica with a baptistery, quatrefoil in plan, whose builders showed complete disregard for the existing building and the exceptionally fine mosaics in it.

Archaeological site Gamzigrad Romuliana (3–4th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade; Pavle Marjanovic and Emperor Gaius Galerius Valens Maksiminus (Caesar from 293 to 305; Augustus from 305 to 311 A.D.)Archeological Sites of Serbia

It was probably then that the east gate was  completely abandoned, and the west gate began to be used as the main entranceway. Numerous elements of sculpted architectural decoration from Galerius’s palace and the temples were secondarily used as building material.

Credits: Story

Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia

Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade
Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Nis

The narration was provided by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.