Porolissum
Encyclopedia
Porolissum was an ancient Roman
city in Dacia
. Established as a military camp in 106
during Trajan's Dacian Wars, the city quickly grew through trade with the native Dacians and became the capital of the province
Dacia Porolissensis in 124
. The site is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological
sites in modern-day Romania
. It is 8 km away from the modern city of Zalău
, in Jac village, Creaca
Commune, Sălaj County.
Trajan established a military stronghold at the site to defend the main passageway through the Carpathian mountains
. The fort, initially built of wood on stone foundations, was garrisoned with 5000 auxiliary
troops transferred from Spain
, Gaul
and Britain
. Even though the name Porolissum appears to be Dacian in origin, archaeologists
have so far uncovered no evidence of a Dacian settlement preceding the Roman fort.
In the following decades, the fort was enlarged and rebuilt in stone (possibly under the reign of Marcus Aurelius), and a civilian settlement developed around the military center. When Hadrian
created the new province Dacia Porolissensis (named for the now sizable city) in 124
, Porolissum became the administrative center of the province. Under emperor Septimius Severus
, the city was granted municipium
status, allowing its leaders and merchants to act independently. Although the Romans withdrew from Dacia in 271
under Aurelian
and the city was abandoned by its founders, archaeological evidence shows that it remained inhabited for several centuries afterwards.
Even though the city was founded as a military center in the middle of a war, the garrison of Porolissum seems to have lived in peaceful coexistence with their Dacian neighbours - several Dacian villages that were apparently founded after the city of Porolissum have been uncovered by archaeologists on the surrounding hills. There are also some inscriptions mentioning city officials with Romano-Dacian names, indicating close cooperation on a political level.
to Liber Pater, an amphitheatre
, insula
consisting of four buildings and a number of houses. The main gate (Porta Praetoria) of the stone fortress has been rebuilt. Current excavation work undertaken by a joint American-Romanian team is focusing upon the city's forum
.
From 2006, another project, "Necropolis Porolissensis", is running focused on the cemetery of the municipium Porolissum, on the spot known as "Ursoies". Since 2009 an Romanian-German-Hungarian team is excavating an underground-building in the centre of the castle, probably a mithraeum
.
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
city in Dacia
Dacia
In ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range...
. Established as a military camp in 106
106
Year 106 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Commodus and Civica...
during Trajan's Dacian Wars, the city quickly grew through trade with the native Dacians and became the capital of the province
Roman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
Dacia Porolissensis in 124
124
Year 124 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Glabrio and Flaccus...
. The site is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
sites in modern-day Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. It is 8 km away from the modern city of Zalău
Zalau
Zalău is the seat of Sălaj County, Transylvania, Romania. In 2004, its estimated population was 62,900.- Ancient times :Zalău is situated in the area inhabited by "Free Dacians", 8 kilometers away from the historical landmark of Porolissum, a well-preserved Roman Castrum with an imposing fortress,...
, in Jac village, Creaca
Creaca
Creaca is a commune located in Sălaj County, Romania.-Villages:The commune is composed of nine villages: Borza , Brebi , Brusturi , Ciglean , Creaca, Jac , Lupoaia , Prodăneşti and Viile Jacului...
Commune, Sălaj County.
History
In 106, at the beginning of his second war against the Dacians, EmperorRoman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Trajan established a military stronghold at the site to defend the main passageway through the Carpathian mountains
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
. The fort, initially built of wood on stone foundations, was garrisoned with 5000 auxiliary
Auxiliaries (Roman military)
Auxiliaries formed the standing non-citizen corps of the Roman army of the Principate , alongside the citizen legions...
troops transferred from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
and Britain
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
. Even though the name Porolissum appears to be Dacian in origin, archaeologists
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
have so far uncovered no evidence of a Dacian settlement preceding the Roman fort.
In the following decades, the fort was enlarged and rebuilt in stone (possibly under the reign of Marcus Aurelius), and a civilian settlement developed around the military center. When Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
created the new province Dacia Porolissensis (named for the now sizable city) in 124
124
Year 124 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Glabrio and Flaccus...
, Porolissum became the administrative center of the province. Under emperor Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus , also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. Severus was born in Leptis Magna in the province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of...
, the city was granted municipium
Municipium
Municipium , the prototype of English municipality, was the Latin term for a town or city. Etymologically the municipium was a social contract between municipes, the "duty holders," or citizens of the town. The duties, or munera, were a communal obligation assumed by the municipes in exchange for...
status, allowing its leaders and merchants to act independently. Although the Romans withdrew from Dacia in 271
271
Year 271 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelianus and Bassus...
under Aurelian
Aurelian
Aurelian , was Roman Emperor from 270 to 275. During his reign, he defeated the Alamanni after a devastating war. He also defeated the Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and Carpi. Aurelian restored the Empire's eastern provinces after his conquest of the Palmyrene Empire in 273. The following...
and the city was abandoned by its founders, archaeological evidence shows that it remained inhabited for several centuries afterwards.
Even though the city was founded as a military center in the middle of a war, the garrison of Porolissum seems to have lived in peaceful coexistence with their Dacian neighbours - several Dacian villages that were apparently founded after the city of Porolissum have been uncovered by archaeologists on the surrounding hills. There are also some inscriptions mentioning city officials with Romano-Dacian names, indicating close cooperation on a political level.
Excavations
Limited archaeological work at Porolissum began in the 19th century, but it was not until 1977 when Romanian archaeologists began larger-scale, systematic excavations. The excavations by a number of teams are ongoing and have uncovered remnants of both the military installations and the civilian city, including public baths, a customs house, a templeTemple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
to Liber Pater, an amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
, insula
Insulae
In Roman architecture, an insula was a kind of apartment building that housed most of the urban citizen population of ancient Rome, including ordinary people of lower- or middle-class status and all but the wealthiest from the upper-middle class...
consisting of four buildings and a number of houses. The main gate (Porta Praetoria) of the stone fortress has been rebuilt. Current excavation work undertaken by a joint American-Romanian team is focusing upon the city's forum
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum...
.
From 2006, another project, "Necropolis Porolissensis", is running focused on the cemetery of the municipium Porolissum, on the spot known as "Ursoies". Since 2009 an Romanian-German-Hungarian team is excavating an underground-building in the centre of the castle, probably a mithraeum
Mithraeum
A Mithraeum is a place of worship for the followers of the mystery religion of Mithraism.The Mithraeum was either an adapted natural cave or cavern or an artificial building imitating a cavern. Mithraea were dark and windowless, even if they were not actually in a subterranean space or in a natural...
.