Archaeological sights of the Romans and Celts on the Moselle

[justus]

 

Anyone who has ever visited the wonderful roman sights of Trier (Treveri), the only roman residence north of the Alps, will certainly be convinced that the area surrounding the city on the Moselle is also rich in roman antiquities. In this post I would like to introduce you to some of the most beautiful and interesting archaeological sights on the Moselle (Mosella).

The "villa urbana" of Perl-Borg

The roman Villa Borg in the Moselle community of Perl is an outstanding cultural attraction worldwide. It is the only completely reconstructed area of an ancient villa complex; there is nothing comparable even in Italy, the heartland of the Roman Empire.

With a gatehouse, museum manor house, roman bath, latrine, Roman kitchen, craftsmen's huts and roman gardens, Villa Borg is the ideal setting to immerse yourself in everyday life in Rome. And at the end, an original roman dish such as the spicy "Lucan sausages" awaits you in the tavern (restaurant).

Edited September 16, 2024 by justus

[shanxi]

There are also several videos on youtube:

 

 

 

 

Edited September 16, 2024 by shanxi

[justus]

The "column of Igel"

The "Igeler Säule" in the village of Igel on the Moselle is, along with the "Drususstein" of Mainz, the only roman tomb north of the Alps that has been preserved above ground in its original location since ancient times.

The pillar monument made of red sandstone is approximately 23 m high and richly decorated with reliefs. These show scenes from the everyday and professional lives of cloth merchants as well as from mythology and, like most ancient sculptures, were originally designed in color.

It wasn't destroyed after the collapse of the Roman Empire due to the fact that in the Middle Ages the main picture on the south side was believed to be a representation of the marriage of Constantius Chlorus to Saint Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great.

Edited September 16, 2024 by justus

[Heliodromus]

The scene of Hercules ascending to the heavens in a quadriga is interesting! I see that some sources describe the receiving figure as Ganymede, but I've been googling for any mythological association between the two and can't find anything direct. From what I've read Ganymede might be expected to be depicted wearing a Phyrgian cap, whereas the figure on the column seems instead to be wearing a Corinthian helmet, as might be expected of Athena/Roma or Minerva.

I see that the Trier Landesmuseum has a reconstruction of the column, painted as it originally had been, which makes it clear that the four heads surrounding the Hercules scene are all blowing wind ... I've never come across anything quite like it!

Does anyone know exactly what/who is being depicted here ?

Edited September 16, 2024 by Heliodromus

[Victor_Clark]

1 hour ago, Heliodromus said:

Does anyone know exactly what/who is being depicted here ?

 

They are the Venti, the Roman gods of wind

[Heliodromus]

Thanks, Victor, so that's one element, but I'm still trying to figure out who the figure receiving Hercules is, and any tradition of using the Venti in this type of context.

The Ganymede reference seems to be confused with a reference to the eagle(?) scene at the top of the tower, but any association of that with Ganymede seems to be entirely speculative.

One source, translated from German, says:

Quote

The total height is 23 metres. It has the following structure: base (steps), plinth, main part, frieze, attic, gable (triangle). A four-metre-high scaly roof rises above the gable. The top is formed by a 3.5-metre-high crowning group consisting of an egg-shaped pine cone with four heads. These originally framed a depiction of the abduction of Ganymede by Jupiter's eagle.

Another, from link below, gives a more sober description of what can be seen.

Quote

It remains only to describe the portion, which may not improperly be called the cap or roof. This portion rises in the form of a pyramid, with a gentle curve on the sides. It is covered with stones, so cut and laid, as to resemble tiles; and it terminates in a capital, charged with four heads, round each of which are wreathed a couple of serpents. (..) On the corners of the capital are standing figures of sirens, above which is a globe, supported by four sphinxes, the symbols of prudence; or, possibly, in allusion to the enigma of existence, which is covered with a mystic veil. The globe itself is of stone, and solid, and surmounted by a winged statue of a Genius in a kneeling posture (or an eagle).

https://www.romeartlover.it/Mosel.html

I'd have to guess that there has to be some precedent for this type of composition of elements, unless the Secundinius brothers just commissioned a mashup of whatever classical themes took their fancy !

 

Edited September 16, 2024 by Heliodromus

[Deinomenid]

43 minutes ago, Heliodromus said:

but I'm still trying to figure out who the figure receiving Hercules is

Athena is closely associated  with him throughout  his many difficulties and up until his death if not in mythology specifically  the apotheosis. Could that explain the helmet too?

[Heliodromus]

2 hours ago, Deinomenid said:

Athena is closely associated  with him throughout  his many difficulties and up until his death if not in mythology specifically  the apotheosis. Could that explain the helmet too?

I hadn't realized that, but it does seem a close enough connection, together with her trademark helmet, to assume it's her. Otherwise, who else ?!

https://people.uncw.edu/deagona/herakles/athena.htm

 

[justus]

The colored version of the „Igeler Säule“ in the courtyard of the RLM Trier.

[justus]

The "Munus-mosaic" of Nennig

In 1852, a farmer accidentally discovered the 10.30 m x 15.65 m floor mosaic that belonged to a representative entrance hall of a villa. Composed of around three million mosaic tiles, it looks impressively realistic. It shows a vivid picture of what the Romans called “munus” in the amphitheater.

[justus]

The celtic "temple area" of the Martberg oppidum

The "Martberg" is located between Pommern and Karden on the lower Moselle, approx. 40 km upstream from the mouth of the Moselle in Koblenz. In pre-roman times there was an oppidum of the celtic "Treveri" on the mountain and in roman times there was an extensive temple area in which the god Lenus Mars was worshiped. The name can be traced back to the worship of this deity.

[shanxi]

What do you think? How many percent real reconstruction, how many percent pure phantasy? 

[justus]

As far as the celtic temples (Umgangstempel) are concerned, based on the numerous archaeological excavations and findings, you can assume that the reconstructions are quite close to the originals. It looks like something different with the celtic buildings. In my opinion, the half-timbered building, built on the Martberg, was reconstructed with "love", but also a lot of imagination. Floor discoloration and post holes only allow limited conclusions about the authentic celtic construction.

Edited September 19, 2024 by justus

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Very interesting mosaics and also reconstructions of the buildings. The gladiatorial mosaics are well known and often illustrate accounts of what the combat may have been like. 

[justus]

 

The "villa urbana" in Longuich

The "villa urbana" in Longuich is a Roman villa urbana that was built on the site of an older villa rustica. Remains of the villa's walls were found in 1984 during land consolidation work. Parts of the villa were excavated and reconstructed in Longuich/Mosel on the “Roman Wine Route”.

The villa was built in the 2nd century AD and measured 110 by 28 meters. Due to its size and furnishings, it is assumed that it served as a senior retirement home for an official from nearby Augusta Treverorum (Trier).

You can visit a part of the former side wing with a bathing complex consisting of a caldarium (hot bath), tepidarium (warm bath), sudatorium (sweat bath), frigidarium (cold bath) and praefurnium (firing room).

Edited September 20, 2024 by justus

[justus]

The Villa Rustica in Mehring is an untypical roman estate on the roman „Wine Route“, in the west of Rheinland-Pfalz.

The villa (28 by 23 meters), which was built in the first half of the 2nd century AD, initially corresponded in its basic form to the widespread Gallo-Roman villa type "Bollendorf": a hall with two corner projections and a columned hall (porticus) in between. Between the 3rd and 4th century AD, the villa underwent numerous additions and conversions, so that at the end of its construction period, with a floor area of 48 by 29 meters and 34 rooms, it was one of the larger mansions in the entire area around Trier (Augusta Treverorum).

[justus]

Roman temple district of Tawern

The roman temple district of Tawern is a collection of ancient temple buildings located on the Metzenberg near today's town of Tawern in the Trier-Saarburg district in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The sanctuary, surrounded by an irregular square district wall (46 × 36 m), originally probably comprised five temples, the fronts of which faced the valley on a line of alignment. Over time, four outbuildings and two gates were built. Over time three temples had to make way for a larger temple with a three-sided ambulatory. In this larger temple there was a larger-than-life sculpture of the god Mercurius. Travelers on the roman road from Metz to Trier are said to have sacrificed to the god of trade, commerce and traffic in the temple area. Christians probably destroyed the temple complex at the latest when the practice of pagan cults was banned in 392 AD.

Edited September 25, 2024 by justus
new photos

[justus]

Picture 106 shows the little roman vicus of Tawern near the temple district.

[justus]

The Celtic settlement "Altburg"

The "Altburg" is a Celtic castle complex near Bundenbach in the Hunsrück. It lies on a one-hectare plateau high above the Hahnenbachtal. The small castle was built by residents of the Celtic Treveri people in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. The fortifications and interior structures have been renewed at least three times, some of them after fire disasters. The last construction activity is attested to in 78 BC, 20 years before Caesar's Gallic war of conquest, which also incorporated the surrounding land of the Celtic Treveri into the Roman Empire.

The Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier carried out the excavations from 1971 to 1974. The old settlement was partially rebuilt as it was in the 1st century BC and expanded into an early historical open-air museum. The dimensions of the settlement and the interior buildings could be reconstructed so well because the ditches and the holes in the over 3,000 posts in the soft slate rock remained visible even after 2,000 years.

 

Edited October 9, 2024 by justus

[Deinomenid]

They wore  Burberry? 🙂

https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=440