Sirmium

The City of Sirmium was mentioned for the first time in the 4th century BC as a settlement predominantly populated by Illyrians and Celts. The Romans invaded the region in the period between 35 and 33 BC and they had governed Sirmium until 582 AD, when it was taken over by Avars.  Due to its strategically convenient position, Sirmium became the administrative and economic centre of the province of Pannonia, and represented a base for military campaigns against the barbarian tribes. 

The most prosperous period for the city was the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century when it became one of the capitals of the Roman Empire. Most of the luxurious monumental buildings date from this period, the most significant one being the Imperial Palace of Sirmium.

The Imperial Palace represents the most important late antique Sirmium archaeological site. The palace was the official residence of Roman emperors.  It was excavated in 1957, after it had been discovered accidentally during the construction of an apartment building.

In order to be preserved and protected, the remains of the palace were covered by a modern construction in 2009, and the site is now integrated in the visitor centre visited by thousands of tourists every year. The conserved parts of the palace represent only a segment of the large palatial complex located by the River Sava which occupied the surface of 20 hectares.

The archaeological research confirmed that the palace had at least two floors and it was protected by a tall wall which surrounded it. It had formal premises for the emperor’s administrative functions, and the residential part consisting of private premises where emperor and his family lived. A large hippodrome (circus) was built next to the palace.

The emperors used it to be presented to the citizens of Sirmium at various ceremonies and chariot races. Sirmium circus was a monumental 450-metre long construction with ellipsoid track and seat stands for the spectators around it. It represents the only circus discovered on the territory of Serbia. 

The archeological findings such as fragments of frescoes, mosaic floors, fragments of statues, fountains, pillars and architectural ornaments made with various kinds of expensive stone such as porphyry and marble imported from different parts of the empire indicate that the palace once had the luxurious interior decoration.

The Imperial Palace had the underfloor heating system (hypocaustum) consisting of large furnaces and passages made by short pillars (pilae) supporting the floor.

The hot air from furnaces circulated through the passages under the floor and heated the rooms. The hot air also streamed through the ceramic pipes embedded in the walls therefore heating the rooms upstairs as well. 

Although The Imperial Palace together with Sirmium Circus represented an immensely significant complex, it was not the only monumental building in Sirmium. The entire city was surrounded by massive defensive wall which protected it from the intruders.  The city had at least two bridges over the River Sava and a more than 24-kilometre long aqueduct which supplied the city with fresh water from Vranjaš spring in Fruška Gora Mountain. 

One of the most luxurious buildings in Sirmium was public bath (thermae) built by Emperor Licinius, which was also used as a watchtower being one of the tallest buildings in the city. Sirmium also had a mint founded by Constantine the Great where gold coins and bars were manufactured.   

Some of the remains of Roman buildings are nowadays integrated in the architecture of modern Sremska Mitrovica. There are several outdoors archaeological sites in the city which represent its landmarks, witnessing of its rich history in the period of late antique.  

There are also the antique Roman remains presented in situ which were integrated within some modern buildings and structures, such as one of the rooms of urban mansion (villa urbana) which is situated in the lapidarium of Museum of Srem, and the ruins of the Early Christian basilica.

The Early Christian basilica of Sirmium was dedicated to Saint Demetrius, one of the Christian martyrs executed in Sirmium. It was located in the centre of Sirmium, near the city square (forum). It consisted of one central nave and two side naves ending with a transept.

There were 25 graves found around and inside the church. Based on the artifacts, the church dates from the first half of the 5th century. The cult of Saint Demetrius was highly significant in the city during the Middle Ages, when the city was named after him - Civitas Sancti Demetrii. The remains of the church are still used for religious ceremonies on some occasions.