Transaquincum

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Transaquincum
Alternative name Contra Aquincum (?), Transiacinco (?)
limes Pannonian Limes
section 4th
Dating (occupancy) 2nd century
to 4th century AD
Type Counter fortress
size 76 × 78 m
Construction stone
State of preservation undeveloped, no longer visible above ground
place Budapest / Pest
Geographical location 47 ° 32 '21.6 "  N , 19 ° 3' 44.5"  E
height 101  m
Previous Castra Aquincum (west)
Burgus Budakalász-Luppa csárda (north)
Subsequently Contra Aquincum (south)
The location of the counter-fortress on the Lower Pannonian Danube Limes.

The Roman military camp , known in the past as the Transaquincum , was built north of the Dagály spa and lido on Népfürdő Street in the 13th century . District the Budapest district of Pest in Hungary discovered. The facility built on the east bank of the Danube existed in antiquity as a counter-fortress on the Pannonian " wet Limes " ( Limes Pannonicus ) and secured a bridge over the river. Large sections of the Danube formed the Roman frontier. Today nothing can be seen of the fort above ground. The naming of the camp with the name Transaquincum is not accepted by all Hungarian scientists, but is still widely used today.

location

Site plan of the fort with the dismantled bathing island and the Roman bridge

At the time of the Roman march in the Pannonian region, the Danube lowland in what is now the city of Budapest was characterized by old and side arms of the river. Traces of settlement have become known in the vicinity since the Neolithic . In these biotopes , which are characterized by swamps and humid zones, there were some alluvial islands. The military area built on the eastern bank at the mouth of the Rákos brook was directly opposite the Aquincum legionary camp on the western bank . Both structures were connected by a bridge, the remains of which were found in the 19th century on the elongated Fürdő island (bathing island) in between. Since then, the river bed has been greatly altered by human interventions, the east bank of the now defunct island would now be in the embankment of the Pest district, while the Népfürdő Street, which now passed south of the fort, would have run along the Danube bank in ancient times. The Transaquincum site, located on the edge of the Barbaricum , was safe from surprise attacks because it was quickly supplied with supplies via the bridge. So far, two bridges have become known in the urban area of ​​Budapest. In addition to the crossing connecting the military camps, there is another bridge a little further to the north in the area between the large civilian settlement around the legionary camp and the city of Aquincum, the remains of which were discovered in the Óbuda district at the former mouth of the Aranyhegyi stream. There was also a bridgehead there.

Research history

Flóris Rómer, the founder of scientific archeology in Hungary, discovered the bridge with Gustav Zsigmondy.

The first structural remains of the facility came out of the ground in 1815 when Jakob Göttersdorfer was plowing his fields near the Ráko brook. The first excavations took place in the same year. In the 1860s, the site was inspected by the engineer Gustav Zsigmondy, who, on behalf of the KK Central Commission for the preservation of architectural monuments, also measured ground monuments for drawing on topographical maps.

Even before the bathing island in front of Transaquincum was completely cleared from 1874, important research on the Roman bridge was carried out here. In 2008, among other things, a search excavation was carried out on the course of this Danube crossing on the Óbudaer Insel (formerly officially Shipyard Island ; this expression is still in use).

Naming

In Hungarian research, there have been considerations for a long time to rethink the previous naming of some Roman forts in the urban area of ​​Budapest. The names, which are known from the late Roman state manual Notitia Dignitatum , could therefore have been assigned incorrectly in the past. The starting point for this theory was the Oppidum of Eravisci on the Pest Gellért Hill (St. Gerhard Berg), which in ancient times may Mons Teutanus said. Teutanus was the tribal god of the Eraviskians. A fort name handed down through Notitia , which after further deliberations may have been called Castellum contra (mons) Teutanus , would therefore be transferred to the camp previously known as Contra Aquincum , while this name would stand for the current Tansaquincum . Transaquincum, on the other hand, would not refer to a military location, but to the geographical area that was opposite the settlement area of ​​Aquincum on the other bank of the river. The archaeologist Zsolt Mráv assumes that the place in the Notitia with the mention of Transaquincum (quote: Praefectus legionis, Transiacinco ) refers to a border strip on the east bank of Aquincum under Roman military administration, which was at the time of Emperor Valentinian I ( 364th cent -375) existed. The command of this buffer zone between the Danube and the hostile Quads and Sarmatians , who led a devastating attack in 374, would have been held by the Praefectus of Legio II Adiutrix. Péter Kovács , a historian and archaeologist, tried to refute Mráv's idea of addressing Transaquincum as a territorial unit by giving examples that showed that there were several places in the Roman provinces that began with Trans . His colleague Endre Tóth, however, stood behind Mráv's identification.

Building history

Fort

The square, 76 × 78 meter fortification with its 2.1 meter thick walls was established in the 2nd century and used until the 4th century. Inside the complex, rows of columns and pillars could be found along the north, west and south sides of the defensive wall, which formed a portico . The remains of a small bath were found in front of the western foyer. During the first excavation, stamped bricks marked Vincentia were found ; one copy had a drawing of a dog attached. During excavations in the area of the Esztergom fort , an appropriately marked stamp related to a find with a coin from the reign of Emperor Constantine I (306–337) was recovered in the area of ​​a layer of destruction from late antiquity .

bridge

In the course of the Danube regulation carried out in 1874–1875, the river bed was also to be deepened. This measure included the removal of the bathing island in front of the Transaquincum . Before the dredging work began, the head of the Archaeological Department of the Hungarian National Museum, Flóris Rómer , and Gustav Zsigmondy had managed to uncover and record four wooden substructures from former Roman bridge piers on the island. The construction connected Transaquincum with the shipyard island and the legion camp. Rómer and Zsigmondy found altars on the bathing island that had been converted into building material, which may have been walled up as spoil in an unknown late Roman military object that stood on the island. In addition, they discovered numerous stones there and in the bed of the Danube, which could have belonged both to the rising masonry of the bridge and to the speculative military object. The research made it clear that this river crossing was planned as a longer-term crossing and must be included in the group of pile grate bridges , as existed in Mainz , for example . The location of the western bridgehead is still unknown.

During the excavations carried out on the shipyard island in 2008, numerous Roman objects were discovered that had been reused by the population in the Middle Ages ( Árpáden period ), among other things as spolia. In this context, many 4th century Roman coins also emerged from the ground. The remains of the bridge on this island, which were also sought, could not be found.

Finds

Ceramics

In the north and north-east of Transaquincum, terra sigillata vessels imported to Pannonia in antiquity were recovered from the Westerndorf production facility near Rosenheim .

Brick stamp

Brick stamp [L] EG (io) IV (Legio IV Flavia Felix) from Visegrád-Lepence.

In addition to the aforementioned brick stamp Vincentia , the trademarks of the Legio IIII Flavia Felix and the Legio II Adiutrix , also recovered from the fortification , have become known. The Legio II Adiutrix lay as a regular troop for centuries in Aquincum , while the presence of the Legio IIII Flavia Felix - at least as a vexillation - can obviously only be documented for a limited period of time under Emperor Lucius Verus (162-166) in Aquincum . At that time the II Adiutrix took part in a Parthian campaign. The stamp of IIII Flavia Felix can also be found in other parts of the Limes Pannonicus , for example in the vicinity of Burgus Solva 23 , a mid-imperial Limes watch tower near Visegrád -Lepence on the Danube Bend . In addition, the scientists discovered the stamp of the commander-in-chief of the Pannonian province of Valeria, Frigeridus dux and the Quadriburgium brand . Both brick stamps can be found in association in several places in the Valerian Danube Limes - especially on new building sites at the time - and therefore belong to the same period when Emperor Valentinian I had the Rhine and Danube massively fortified.

Stone monuments

An altar for the Dei Reduces , the returning gods, discovered in 1848 and built as a hewn spoil, comes from the late antique fort . The inscription on the stone names the Lower Pannonian governor Gaius Suetrius Sabinus as the founder , who had the altar set up during his time in office between 215/216 and April 217 AD. Also in secondary use, a votive altar for the forest god Silvanus Silvestris came to light on the floor of the fortification in 1848 . The Princeps legionis Tiberius Iulius Masculus of the Second Adiutrix once had him set according to a vow. As Princeps legionis , Iulius Masculus was the highest-ranking centurion of a legion after the Primus Pilus .

In the district of Rákospalota, north-east of the fort, the consecration stone of a Beneficiarius consularis of the Legio II Adiutrix , who was dedicated to the genius commercii , the protective spirit of economy and trade, was discovered along with other inscriptions . The Beneficiarius consularis was the highest rank that a legionary soldier could achieve among the beneficiaries .

Among the figurative finds from the fort, a stone Victoria statuette is worth mentioning.

Monument protection

The monuments of Hungary are protected under the Act No. LXIV of 2001 by being entered in the register of monuments. The Contra Aquincum fort as well as all the other Limes facilities belong to the nationally valuable cultural assets as archaeological sites according to § 3.1. According to § 2.1, all finds are state property, regardless of where they are found. Violations of the export regulations are considered a criminal offense or a crime and are punished with imprisonment for up to three years.

See also

literature

  • Jenő Fitz (Ed.): The Roman Limes in Hungary (= Bulletin du musée roi Saint Etienne. Series A, Volume 22). Fejér Megyei Múzeumok Igazgatósága, Székesfehérvár 1976.
  • Zsolt Mráv: Castellum contra Tautantum. To identify a late Roman fortress. In: Ádám Szabó , Endre Tóth (ed.): Bölcske. Roman inscriptions and finds - In memoriam Sándor Soproni (1926–1995). Hungarian National Museum, Budapest 2003, ISBN 963-9046-83-3 , pp. 329-376 (Libelli archaeologici Ser. Nov. No. II).
  • Lajos Nagy : Transaquincum . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume VI A, 2, Stuttgart 1937, Col. 2148-2150.
  • Tibor Nagy : Római kőemlékek Transaquincum területérő. (Roman stone monuments from the area of ​​Transaquincum). In: Budapest Régiségei. 15, 1950, pp. 357-388.
  • Sándor Soproni : The late Roman Limes between Esztergom and Szentendre. Akademiai Kiado, Budapest 1978, ISBN 963-05-1307-2 .
  • Sándor Soproni: The last decades of the Pannonian Limes. Beck, Munich 1985, ISBN 3-406-30453-2 .
  • Zsolt Visy : The Pannonian Limes in Hungary. Theiss, Stuttgart 1988, ISBN 3-8062-0488-8 .

Remarks

  1. ^ Paula Zsidi : Research in Aquincum, 1969-2002. In honor of Klára Póczy. Budapesti Történeti Múzeum 2003, ISBN 963-9340-23-5 , p. 61.
  2. ↑ The late Roman fortress of Göd. In: Communicationes archeologicae Hungariae 2003. Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum. Népművelési Propaganda Iroda, Budapest 2003, pp. 83–114; here: pp. 99–107, illus. p. 102.
  3. ↑ Zoltán Havas: Szondázó kutatások az Óbudai Hajógyári-szigeten 2007-ben . (Soundings on the Óbuda shipyard island in 2007). Internet pages of the Budapesti Történeti Múzeum (BTM) Archived copy ( memento of the original from February 10, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved August 1, 2010. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / regeszet.aquincum.hu
  4. ^ A b c Paula Zsidi : Research in Aquincum, 1969-2002. In honor of Klára Póczy. Budapesti Történeti Múzeum 2003, ISBN 963-9340-23-5 , p. 98.
  5. ^ Zsolt Visy: The Pannonian Limes in Hungary . Theiss, Stuttgart 1988, ISBN 3-8062-0488-8 . P. 85. Fig. 78.
  6. ↑ Klára Póczy: Híradások a "földalatti városról." (News from the "underground city") In: Budapesti Negyed. No. 22, 1998/4. Pp. 3-24.
  7. ^ Zsolt Visy: The Pannonian Limes in Hungary . Theiss, Stuttgart 1988, ISBN 3-8062-0488-8 , pp. 84-85.
  8. ^ A b Zoltán Havas: Újabb feltárások az óbudai Hajógyári-szigeten . (The latest excavations on the Óbuda shipyard island). Internet pages of the Budapesti Történeti Múzeum (BTM) Archived copy ( memento of the original from July 25, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved August 1, 2010. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / regeszet.aquincum.hu
  9. ↑ Notitia Dignitatum Occ. XXXIII 55.
  10. ^ Zsolt Mráv: Castellum contra Tautantum. To identify a late Roman fortress. In: Ádám Szabó , Endre Tóth (ed.): Bölcske. Roman inscriptions and finds - In memoriam Sándor Soproni (1926-1995) Libelli archaeologici Ser. Nov. No. II. Hungarian National Museum, Budapest 2003, ISBN 963-9046-83-9 , p. 354.
  11. ↑ The late Roman fortress of Göd. In: Communicationes archeologicae Hungariae 2003. Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum. Népművelési Propaganda Iroda, Budapest 2003, pp. 99–107, ill. P. 102.
  12. ^ Paula Zsidi : Research in Aquincum, 1969-2002. In honor of Klára Póczy. Budapesti Történeti Múzeum 2003, ISBN 963-9340-23-5 , p. 61.
  13. ↑ Notitia Dignitatum occ. XXXIII 65.
  14. ↑ Zsolt Mráv: "Valentinianus ... in ipsis Quadorum terris quasi romano iuri iam vindicatis aedificari praesidiria castra mandavit." (Amm. Marc. XXIX./6.2) I Valentinianus kvád külpolitikája egy vitatott Ammianus Marcellinus tükrében. In: Pannoniai kutatások (1999) pp. 77–111.
  15. ↑ Péter Kovács: Adatok a tetrachia-kori katonai építkezésekhez Pannoniában. In: Antik tanulmányok . 45, 2001, pp. 141-168.
  16. ^ Péter Kovács: Discussio. In: Bölcske. Roman inscriptions and finds. Acta Archaeologica . Volume 55, 3-4, 2004, pp. 377-389.
  17. ^ Zsolt Visy: The Pannonian Limes in Hungary . Theiss, Stuttgart 1988, ISBN 3-8062-0488-8 . P. 84.
  18. ^ Paulys Realencyclopadie der classical antiquity . Supplementary Volume XV. Alfred Druckermüller, Stuttgart 1978, column 85.
  19. ^ Sándor Soproni: The late Roman Limes between Esztergom and Szentendre. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest 1978. p. 18.
  20. ^ Zsolt Visy: The Pannonian Limes in Hungary . Theiss, Stuttgart 1988, ISBN 3-8062-0488-8 , p. 68.
  21. ^ Zsolt Mráv: Hadrian's bridge building inscription from Poetovio. In: Communicationes archeologicae Hungariae 2002 . Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum. Népművelési Propaganda Iroda, Budapest 2002, p. 47.
  22. ↑ Bonn Yearbooks. Volume 188, Butzon & Bercker, Kevelaer 1988, p. 627.
  23. ↑ CIL 3, 10663b .
  24. ↑ CIL 3, 03750x .
  25. ↑ CIL 3, 10676d .
  26. ↑ CIL 3, 03772f .
  27. ↑ For example Burgus Solva 14. In: Zsolt Visy: The ripa Pannonica in Hungary. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest 2003, ISBN 9630579804 , p. 49.
  28. ↑ CIL 3, 03429 .
  29. ↑ Cassius Dio 78,13,2.
  30. ↑ CIL 3, 03501 .
  31. ↑ CIL 3, 3617 .
  32. ^ Joachim Ott: The Beneficiarier. Steiner, Stuttgart 1995, ISBN 3515066608 , p. 30.
  33. ^ Zsolt Visy: The Pannonian Limes in Hungary . Theiss, Stuttgart 1988, ISBN 3-8062-0488-8 , p. 85.