EN Connect to free wifi VisitBratislava Roman Traces Remains of a Roman “Bath” At Veľká lúka archeological site in Bratislava – Dúbravka, you can see a 3rd century discovery: foundations of a Roman bath- house with three rooms, con- nected with three semi-circular apses that served as pools for cold, warm and hot water. Initial- ly planned as a bathhouse, the building was later changed into a residential dwelling – a country- side villa known as villa rustica. It contained a unique finding of a bronze statue of a minor fertility god, Priapus. Unlimited travel by public transport Gerulata Roman Military Camp Free admission to selected museums and galleries Free guided walking tour and other discounts up to 50 % The border of the Roman Empire ings from the 1st to 4th centuries. in Central Europe ran along the The best-preserved monument is Danube, forming a natural barri- the late antique fortress. Its orig- er, and it was here that Limes Ro- inal mortar floor was left intact. Celtic manus border defence system Stone reliefs were later walled - a chain of military camps and into the enclosure wall of the for- watchtowers was built. Found- tress, now are on display in Geru- Text and Photo credits: Municipal ed by the Romans in the 1st cen- lata lapidarium. You can also see Monument Preservation Institute, & Roman tury on the territory of current here a skeleton grave reconstruc- Follow us Slovak National Museum – Museum of History, Bratislava City Museum Rusovce, the military camp was tion, the camp model, and find- Visit Bratislava – Devín Castle and Museum Ancient to protect the eastern wing of the ings from archaeological surveys @visitbratislava Gerulata Rusovce, Studio 727, MS Agency, Shutterstock legion in Carnuntum, the capital such as pendants, amulets, coins Visit Bratislava Design: sowa | brandstudio Roman Milestone of the Pannonia Superior prov- and ceramics. Ancient Gerulata is Bratislava If you go for a walk in the park ince (nowadays in Austria). The a candidate for UNESCO World at Hraničné námestie Square camp was a home to a cavalry Heritage List, listed as The Dan- in Bratislava – Podunajské Bi- unit ala prima Cannanefatum, ube Limes together with other skupice, you will stumble upon surrounded by a civilian settle- Roman monuments along the a copy of a Roman milestone ment. Ancient Gerulata Museum Danube in Germany, Austria and Acropolis at Bratislava Castle from 230 A.D. The inscription on contains foundations of build- Hungary. Secret of Celtic coins the milestone confirms it was re- paired by the then ruling Emperor Gerulata Roman Military Camp Implemented with the financial support of the Ministry Alexander Severus. of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic. Online sale Bratislava CARD Sv. Mikuláš Church contains walled-in Roman texts (spolias). Ancient Rome comes to life in Bratislava Tourist Board Tourist Information Centre Bratislava – Rusovce annually during Primaciálne nám. 1 Klobučnícka 2 Roman Games and Limes Day. The P. O. BOX 349 SK-811 01 Bratislava 810 00 Bratislava Tel.: +421 2 16 186 More info on Celtic and Roman visitors can get an insight into [email protected] Tel.: +421 2 59356651 Bratislava: lives of noble Romans and witness BRATISLAVA www.visitbratislava.com [email protected] III / 2021 www.visitbratislava.com/history gladiator fights. TOURIST BOARD www.visitbratislava.com Where Did the Celts of Bratisla- CELTIC BRATISLAVA va Live? Pottery ROMAN BRATISLAVA The usual Celtic dwelling beyond The Celts were skilled craftsmen and their pottery sites were centred in Foundation of a Celtic oppidum (i.e. fortified settlement) on the the murals had its roof supported The strategic location of Bratislava at the crossroads of Amber and Dan- craft settlements around what are currently Hlavné námestie and Ná- territory of current Bratislava at the end of the 2nd century BC took by posts and its floor was pasted ube Roads played an important role in extension of the Roman Empire mestie slobody Squares. A total of 17 Celtic kilns used for firing of both place due to favourable location at crossroads of long-distance roads. with earth, with a ritual fireplace in Mid-Danube section. Discoveries such as Celto-Roman structures at grey and painted ceramics have been discovered so far. The Celts were The Celtic town in Bratislava covered approx. 240 acres. A fortified in the centre. The walls were ei- Bratislava Castle and Roman amphorae full of coins are a proof of the the first nation to use a fast-rotating potter’s wheel on our territory. acropolis dominated at the top of the castle hill. The settlement ther pleated with twigs and earliest Roman presence on the territory of Bratislava. The Roman influ- beyond murals extended to the current Old Town, with a pre-castle smeared with clay, or they were ence is demonstrated by the applied building method, Latin inscriptions settlement at what is today Námestie Slobody Square. The Celtic wooden boards built in a log- on coins and dietary habits such as the use of olive oil. settlement reached far beyond the town centre – the Devín oppidum house style. Shafts were found Kiln cupola was a strategic trade centre. next to such dwellings, serving either as wells or storage areas. Ancient Findings Celts of Bratislava Exhibition, A pit-house at Nám. A. Dubčeka Grate SNM – Museum of History at Bratislava Castle shows a permanent ex- Square revealed a bronze key. located in the underground part hibition called History of Slovakia – From Prehistoric to Middle Ages. Medium rib (pillar) of the castle, presents the Celtic A part of it is focused on the Roman period in Slovakia and includes find- theme divided into crafts such as Heating chambers ings from Bratislava and other sites. Antiquity buffs are recommended pottery, iron founding and minting. to visit also the SNM – Archaeological Museum below the castle. Ro- The exhibits contain original man traces in Bratislava can be found in the form of stamped bricks, al- findings including precious coin tar stones and tombstones with bass reliefs, and minor objects such as treasures. The best-preserved Celtic kiln was found in the Apponyi Palace. pins, coins and pieces of ceramics. A double-chamber kiln with a circular grate is now exhibited at Celtic Coins from Bratislava Bratislava City Museum. Guardian of Bratislava Celts were the first nation in Cen- melting pots and small furnace The Devín Castle hill at the con- spot the ground plan of a 3rd cen- tral Europe to start with mint- were discovered. Silver coins were What did the Celts from Bratislava eat and drink? fluence of the Danube and Mora- tury dwelling house. With grain as their staple diet, the Celts were far from vegetarians. This ing. As early as in the 2nd centu- made beyond the murals. One va Rivers was occupied by the is confirmed by a large number of bones of both domestic and wild ani- ry BC, they minted golden coins, such mint was located at the cur- Romans replacing the Celts and Visualisation of Celto-Roman Dwelling at Acropolis mals found in the waste pits of Bratislava oppidum. The court of Celtic so-called shell-type staters. Gold- rent Panská Street, where a large Germanic tribes. The Devín Cas- rulers saw feasts as those of any other kings. Discovered amphorae en staters from Bratislava con- number of iron-smelting cups and tle revealed foundations of sever- are an ample proof that the Celtic elite loved Rich Celts had their tain Latin inscriptions BIATEC and fragments of dosing plates for sil- wine. al Roman structures. Next to the wine, olive oil, luxurious dining glassware and wrought metalware im- Acropolis at Bratislava Castle NONNOS. It is the oldest script ver melting were discovered. The castle entrance, you can see foun- ported from other countries. Common people drank various fermented ever used on Slovak territory. The small exposition of Celtic mint- dations of a sacral building with beverages akin to beer. Positioned strategically right most frequently circulated me- ing is placed right on its discovery plaster fragments, where also above the Danube, the castle hill dium were silver coins known as place, in the underground prem- a 4th century iron cross was dis- was predestined to become the tetradrachmae. A usual motif was ises of the Pálffy Palace (GMB). covered. At the mid-castle court- seat of Celtic rulers. In the 1st a small horse or a rider with mis- yard, next to the well, you can century BC, opulent mansions of tletoe and sword. In total, there Discoveries Celtic aristocracy were construct- were 16 types of inscriptions on ed here – stone houses with mu- the coins from Bratislava (e.g. The most frequent inscription on Celtic at Devín Castle rals and high-quality floor tiles. with various suffixes such as -rix = coins is Biatec, hence these coins Right under the palace courtyard, king, duke; or -marus = great, im- were given the name of a biatec. There The castle and village of Devín re- a unique mosaic of opus signinum portant). is a large-sized Biatec statue made by vealed numerous dwellings and type was discovered, which was L. Cvengrošová in front of the Slovak manufacturing objects, includ- decorated with rosette and me- How Were the Coins Minted? National Bank building. ing jeweller’s and blacksmith’s ander motifs and formed a part of The precious metal was dosed into shops with more than 150 objects the decorative admission hall. You a flat clay plate, which was put into that were uncovered there. Nu- can still see its remnants in situ. the furnace to melt the metal, thus merous findings from Devín, such creating a coin-shaped object.