Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace
of Galerius (2007)
Serbia
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The Late Roman fortified palace compound and memorial
complex of Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius, in the east of Serbia,
was commissioned by Emperor Caius Valerius Galerius Maximianus, in the
late 3rd and early 4th century. It was known as Felix Romuliana, named
after the Emperor's mother.
The site consists of fortifications, the palace in the north-western
part of the complex, basilicas, temples, hot baths, memorial complex, and
a tetrapylon. The site offers a unique testimony of the Roman building
tradition marked by the ideology of the period of the Second Tetrachy. The
group of buildings is also unique in its intertwining of ceremonial and
memorial functions. The relation between two spatial ensembles in this
site is stressed by the tetrapylon which is placed on the crossroads
between the worldly fortification and palace on the one side and the
other-worldly mausoleums and consecration monuments on the other.
- Yugoslavia 1970. Roman mosaic from Gamzigrad, 4th century. "Venator".
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Galerius was the adopted son of emperor Diocletian and Roman emperor 308-313.
He is known to have been a bitter persecutor of the Christians.
On 21st September 2007, Serbia has issued a very nice set of two stamps from
Gamzigrad, showing the ruins of Gamzigrad's Roman Forum, and inscribed with
UNESCO. Both stamps have the same face value.
- Serbia 2007. Ruins of the Roman Forum of Gamzigrad. Latin
characters.
- Serbia 2007. Idem with Cyrillic characters.
Each of the stamps are sold in two panes of each three stamps, with a label
of no postal value adjoined, see below. The labels show close-ups of museum
exhibits from the archeological findings.
- Serbia 2007. Ruins of the Roman Forum of Gamzigrad with labels showing
museum exhibits from the archeological findings. Scan by courtesy of Miomir
Zivkovic (Serbia).
Serbia was at one time part of the ancient country of Illyria. The Romans conquered it in 168 bc and governed it as the province of Moesia. In ad 395 it became part of the Byzantine Empire. In the 7th century Serbs settled in the area west of the Morava River and subsequently gave allegiance to the Byzantines.
Sources and links:
Many thanks to Mr. Miomir Zivkovic (Serbia) for images and information on this
site.
Other World Heritage Sites in Serbia (on this site). Please
refer to the UNESCO-listing,
Serbia section, for further information on
the individual properties.
New issue Serbia 21st September 2007. Gamzigrad.
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Revised 28 sep 2007
Copyright © 1999 Heindorffhus
All Rights Reserved
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