Roman city gate Mainz
During construction work on a residential complex on the " Kästrich " in the Upper Town of Mainz, remnants of the walls of the late antique Mogontiacum were discovered in 1985 . It was a Roman city gate from the 4th century as well as the well-preserved pavement of the road through it and parts of the late antique city wall. The structural remains were preserved and integrated into the newly built residential complex as a visible and accessible testimony to Roman Mainz .
Historical background
After the collapse of the Limes in AD 259/60, the Roman Mogontiacum became a front-line town again. The provincial capital , which had not been fortified until then, had to provide adequate protection, which the Roman troops could no longer ensure despite their massive presence there. The first city wall was built.
In the course of the renovation of this older, 3rd century city wall, not long after 350 AD, the city wall of the late antique Mogontiacum was significantly shortened and important city areas such as the stage theater or the recently abandoned legionary camp were excluded. In the area of the legionary camp, on the one hand, older building material was reused ( spoilage visible in the masonry), on the other hand, the camp road, paved with massive sandstone slabs and leading to the former Porta Praetoria (main gate), was still used.
The new city wall was interrupted by a city gate in order to pass through this still important road. This city gate, including the remains of the former camp road and adjacent wall remains, was excavated in 1985. Particularly noteworthy are the clearly ground lanes almost 2 m wide in the sandstone slabs of the Via praetoria or decumanus maximus, which corresponded to the width of Roman vehicles and testify to the lively use of the Via praetoria.
Rediscovery and today's condition
During the construction of a larger residential complex on the Kästrich, the shape and style of which is based on Roman architecture, the city gate was found again in 1985. The find was integrated into the green spaces of the residential complex and is now accessible to visitors. From the city gate you can see the nearby medieval Alexander Tower (today located in the area of the Kupferbergkellerei ), the visible foundation of which also dates from Roman times and which marks the position of one of the numerous towers of the Roman city wall.
literature
- Roland Bockius, Stephan Pelgen, Marion Witteyer: Forays through the Roman Mainz . Publishing house Philipp von Zabern, Mainz 2003
- Hans Jacobi: MOGONTIACUM - The Roman Mainz . Regio Kunst-Verlag, Mainz 1996, ISBN 3-00-001115-3
Web links
- Mainz fortress: Chapter legionary camp on the Kästrich
- Römertor - Website City of Mainz
- Archeology Directorate Mainz - Late Antique City Gate
See also
Coordinates: 49 ° 59 ′ 46 " N , 8 ° 15 ′ 49.6" E