Nesactium
Nesactium was a fortified ancient city on the Istrian peninsula . Its origins go back to the Istrian people . Since the 2nd century BC BC Nesactium was a Roman city. It was abandoned during the Slavic invasions of the 7th century AD.
The town is located on a hill in southeastern Istria near the Budava Bay near Vižače, 10 kilometers east of Pula . The excavation site can now be visited as an archaeological park.
history
Nesactium was already settled in the Bronze Age (1200 BC). The place was one of the castellieri , small fortified villages typical of the region . The oldest fortification, a wall made of rubble stones without mortar, was 800 meters long. The indigenous forerunners developed between 1000 and 800 BC. The Iron Age culture attributed to the Istrians.
The remains of a gate and fortifications as well as a necropolis with over 250 graves have been preserved from the pre-Roman times. The additions, ceramics and various metal objects, indicate that Nesactium had far-reaching trade relations: with Greece, with the Etruscans and in the Alpine region.
In the early 2nd century BC BC Nesactium was the central place of the Istrians. Under the leadership of King Epulo , they defended 177 BC. BC the city long but ultimately unsuccessful against the Romans. After the fall, it was destroyed by the Romans, but soon afterwards settled again.
The new Nesactium was laid out as an unfortified Roman city. There was a forum, three temples and baths. The city had the status of a municipality . When the power of the Roman Empire fell in the 4th century AD, Nesactium was fortified again. At the same time, Christianity spread. The remains of an early Christian church from that era were also found during the excavations. When the Slavs invaded Istria in the 7th century, Nesactium was destroyed and abandoned.
The exploration of the ruins began with excavations in the years 1902-1904. Most of the finds are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Istria in Pula.
tour
1. Early history gate, "Porta Praehistorica" (in the western city wall, approx. 70 m north of the main entrance, the "Roman Gate")
2. Prehistoric necropolis (behind the western city wall, between the Prehistoric Gate and the Roman Gate)
3. New finds from prehistoric urn graves (approx. 30 m southeast of the Roman Gate)
4. Roman Capitol (approx. 60 m east of the Roman Gate, coming in a straight line from the gate): with the remains of three temples, which are probably temples for Jupiter , Juno and Minerva , possibly in the 1st century AD. Built in BC
5. Roman Forum (approx. 30 m east of the Roman Capitol): was framed on three sides with columns that belonged to a public hall
6. Tabernae (northeastern edge of the Roman Capitol): small rooms used for commercial purposes
7.Römische Therme (approx. 40 m north of the Tabernae)
8. Cistern (directly east of the Northern Basilica)
9. Northern basilica : probably intended for priestly synods and baptisms, possibly dedicated to Saint Thomas
10. Southern basilica: was probably intended for everyday worship and was dedicated to Saint Mary
11. Roman houses (approx. 30 m south of the Roman Capitol and another approx. 100 m further east)
12. Roman necropolis (approx. 40 m west and thus in front of the Roman gate and city wall)
13. City wall (western part, between the Early History Gate and the Roman Gate)
14. Roman Gate, "Porta Polensis" (main entrance in the western city wall)
In the middle of the site is a small guard house built in the 20th century with a small exhibition in which literature on Nesactium can also be purchased.
literature
- Titus Livius : Ab urbe condita. XLI, 2, 4-16.
- Kristina Mihovilić, Robert Matijasić: Nesactium. (= Cultural and historical monuments in Istria. No. 7), 1st edition. Pula 1999, ISBN 953-6153-10-6 .
- Kristina Mihovilić, Robert Matijasić: Nesactium. (= Monumenti storico-culturali dell'Istria. No. 7). Pola 1998, ISBN 953-6153-09-2 .
- Kristina Mihovilić: Nezakcij. Prapovijesni nalazi 1900–1953. (Nesactium. Prehistoric finds 1900–1953.) Pula 2001, ISBN 953-6153-15-7 .
- Kristina Mihovilić: Nezakcij. Nalaz grobnice 1981. Pula 1996, ISBN 953-6153-01-7 .
- Guido Rosada (Ed.): Oppidum Nesactium. Una città istro-romana. 1999, ISBN 88-87061-56-4 .
- Hans-Dieter, Elke Kaspar: Istria - an archaeological journey of discovery. Schonungen 2005, ISBN 3-925696-18-0 .
- Hans-Dieter, Elke Kaspar: Istria in prehistoric times. Norderstedt 2014, ISBN 978-3-7322-9616-3 , pp. 328–338.
Web links
Coordinates: 44 ° 55 ′ 0 ″ N , 13 ° 58 ′ 11 ″ E