Römische Architektur/Urbanistik

Na području antičke luke u Zatonu kraj Nina pronađena je pri hidroarheološkim istraživanjima velika količina keramičkoga materijala, među kojim autor izdvaja i obrađuje dva zoomorfna reci-pijenta. Interdisciplinarnim radom autor nastoji objasniti simboliku ovdje obrađivanih zoomorfnih recipijenata. Komparativnim istraživanjima u vidu analogija upotpunjuje pregled i distribuciju ostalih zoomorfnih recipijenata maloazijske provenijencije pronađenih na prostoru antičke Liburnije. Također će u radu po prvi put biti naznačene poneke poje-dinosti izrazito dokumentacijske i tehničke naravi ovdje obrađi-vanih zoomorfnih recipijenata, poput dodjeljivanja inventarnoga broja, obrade arheološkoga materijala, kolorita i tonaliteta boje, dimenzija, zapremnine i drugih odrednica.

From  the  large  quantity  of  pottery  found  during  the  hydroar-
chaeological research in the ancient port of Zaton near Nin, the
author  singles  out  and  discusses  here  two  zoomorphic  recep-
tacles. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the author endeav-
ors to explain the symbolism of the zoomorphic receptacles dis-
cussed here. In his comparative research, the author uses analo-
gies to complement the overview and distribution of the other
zoomorphic receptacles of the Asia Minor origin found on the
territory of the ancient Liburnia.
Also for the first time, the work provides details of how these
zoomorphic receptacles were documented (e.g. the way of as-
signing their inventory numbers) and some technical details (the
processing of the archaeological material, its colors and shades,
dimensions, capacity and other determinants).

The aim is to study ancient fountains in their architectural context, in the belief that the context will reveal their function in the dwelling.  This article first analyzes the fountain structures and examines the relationship between each structure and the architecture. Through this approach, it is possible to reach some conclusions of more general value, concerning the function of central parts of Roman houses.

Bronzegiessen, Schmieden und Weben unter einem Dach

Die Insula 50 am Südostrand von Augusta Raurica wurde 1969 und 1981/82 ausgegraben. Die Auswertung der Befunde und Funde aus der Nordwestecke dieser Insula ermöglichen einen Einblick in die rund 200-jährige Besiedlungsgeschichte eines Handwerkerquartiers. Die Holz- und Steinbaustrukturen liessen sich in fünf aufeinanderfolgende Bauzustände im Zeitraum zwischen 10/30 und 260/270 n. Chr. gliedern. Neben der kontinuierlich betriebenen Metallverarbeitung konnten auch das Textilhandwerk sowie eine Falschmünzerei nachgewiesen werden. Produziert wurde in einer sehr grossflächigen Werkhalle, die verschiedene Funktionsbereiche aufwies. Zuletzt wurde in den Ruinen noch einmal Buntmetall verarbeitet.

In a PhD-project at the University of Basel (CH) the completely excavated Insula 30 of the roman city Augusta Raurica (Augst/Kaiseraugst, CH) is in the focus of an archaeological interpretation. For the first time in Augusta Raurica this work is achieved by the aid of a geographical information system (GIS). GIS is already established in different application fields of archaeology. In Augusta Raurica it is used since 2005. The introduced pilot project shows the method and procedure how archaeological records can be efficiently extrapolated as a source with the aid of GIS. Within the many advantages and possibilities of this interpretation method the sustainability has to be emphasized. The digitally extrapolated sources and the Data in the GIS are comprehensively available to the scientific community for their own research.

The syncretism typical for the Romans was thus reflected also in architecture. One of the diverse architectural elements applied was a so-called Syrian arch. A typical feature of buildings with the Syrian arch is the distinctive arrangement of the entablature, which unlike in the Classical Greco-Roman
architecture does not travel horizontally along the entire circumference of the structure, but in some places – most often in the middle of a building’s façade – bends up in an arch form. Formally, it is important to differentiate between the ways in which the arch was connected to the architrave. Based on this distinction, the structures can be divided into two basic groups: first, structures with the entablature itself curving up into an arch without interruption (the so-called arcuated lintel), and second, structures with an arch “separated” from the entablature, resting on the top of the entablature (sometimes referred to as serliana). Both groups occur concurrently in the same time period. The basic differences between them can be demonstrated on two monuments from Asia Minor: so-called Temple of Hadrian in Ephesus and the Tetrapylon in phrodisias.
The arch, either as an individual feature or as part of a pediment, exemplifies the adoption of foreign elements by Roman architecture. At first sight it seems to have been used as a decorative element, but a more thorough research into its occurrence clearly shows that it is mainly found in religious
buildings and has a symbolic value. The finds from late antiquity clearly show that this element was in all its forms incorporated into the early Christian architecture,
and became its inseparable part.

Sundials in Roman and Byzantine Mosaics (1st – 9th Century AD). A scientific monograph. The sundials on ancient mosaics have not been the subject of scientific studies so far. The author has gathered together  in this  publication  the sundials  already known (Torre Anunzaiata, Sarsina, Trier, Saint-Romain-en-Gal, Antiochia and Brading; Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9) and those which have  not  previously  been  identified.  Thanks  to  the author’s  new  identifcations,  the  catalogue  has  been enlarged  by  six  new  sundials (Grand,Tarsus, Antioch – interpreted by H. Pamir; Figs.  3, 6,  8, and 10. Tayibat al-Imam, Jerusalem and Umm al-Rasas (Sebastis); Figs. 10, 11, 12) and three monumental gnomes-columns with multiple functions that were used as monumental sundials [Madaba (Jerusalem), Umm al-Rasas (Kastron Mefaa) and Rome (Jerusalem); Figs. 13–15]. In addition, recognizing fully John H. Humphrey’s  interpretations,  the  author  enriches  the catalogue  by  eight  ancient  mosaic  representations  of obelisks in  circuses (Lyon, Barcelona, Volubilis, Piazza Armerina - two mosaics, Girona, Carthage and Gafsa; Figs.  16–23).  They  performed the roles of monumental sundials. In this way, the catalogue includes  twenty-three  mosaics with  the representations of sundials. They come from the Western and Eastern Provinces of the Roman Empire. The first mosaic is dated to the beginning of the 1st century AD and the last dates to the 9th century AD. The author, after  a  short  description  of each monument,  summarizes the issue discussing the role of sundials in Roman and Byzantine society, their complex signifcance and symbolic difficult linked with the progress of time on which nature and human life are dependent.

Im Zuge der Masterthesis des Verfassers am Department für Bauen und Umwelt, Zentrum für Baukulturelles Erbe der Donauuniversität Krems, konnten im Süden der Filialkirche hl. Johannes der Täufer, in St. Johann im Mauerthale die bisher unbekannten baulichen Reste eines Profanbaus entdeckt werden, der mit ziemlicher Sicherheit als römischer Wachturm des norischen Donaulimes anzusprechen ist. Dieser Neuentdeckung kommt insofern große Bedeutung zu, als
der Nominierungsprozess des bayrischen und österreichischen Donaulimes als UNESCO-Welterbe bereits voll angelaufen ist.4 Dieser Beitrag soll sich als kurzer Vorbericht zu einer umfassenden Bauforschung verstehen und ausschließlich die
als römisch zu bezeichnenden Baubefunde in Beziehung zum mittelalterlichen Sakralbau präsentieren.

Das Legionslager war das alles beherrschende Bauwerk im römischen Mainz. Damit begann die Geschichte des römischen Mainz. Das Legionslager erhob sich auf einem 40 m hohen Plateau über den Rhein und war an drei Seiten durch Steilabhänge gesichert. Jeder, der sich Mainz von Osten näherte, konnte das Legionslager bereits von weitem erkennen. Fast 400 Jahre lang war es in Mainz nicht nur das topografisch beherrschende Element, sondern auch das weithin sichtbare Zeichen römischen Machtanspruchs. Nur Bonn hat römische Truppen in einem
Legionslager für eine vergleichbar lange Zeit beherbergt
wie Mainz. Von dem Legionslager ist heute nichts mehr zu sehen. Das Gelände war mehrere Jahrhunderte von Festungsanlagen überbaut, bei deren Bau viele Reste des Lagers vernichtet worden sind. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg entstand auf dem Linsenberg die Mainzer Universitätsmedizin, wobei es dabei erneut zu weiteren Zerstörungen von Resten des Legionslagers kam. Der Stellenwert und die Lage des Legionslagers werden deshalb heute nur noch durch die eindrucksvolle Wasserleitung deutlich, deren Reste am Fuße des Linsenberges im Zahlbachtal zu finden sind.

The so-called „Bouleuerion Court“ is located in the city center of Aphrodisias immediately to the south of the Temple of Aphrodite. It encloses the city’s Bouleuterion which was built around 200 A.D. This article covers the history of this area from the late Hellenistic and early Imperial periods to the Middle Byzantine era, based on architecture, archaeology, and inscriptions. It becomes evident that a thorough evaluation of archival materials from the 1960s provides valuable insight into stratigraphy and finds.
From the early Imperial period to the second half of the 2nd century, the “Bouleuterion Court” served as the urban center and meeting place of the boule. During the late Antonine or Severan period the senator Attalos erected a new Bouleuterion for the city council. Following the decline of urban institutions, the north stoa of the court housed a sculptor’s workshop. According to an inscription from around 500 A.D., the Bouleuterion was repurposed as a palaistra and probably used for sporting competitions such as wrestling and boxing. Probably due to the raising water table in the city, the level of the entire court was raised. From the second half of the 6th century onwards, archaeological evidence implies that the area fell into decline. Remains of an olive press facility and graves can both be dated to the Middle Byzantine period. The latter ones can be connected to the conversion of the Temple of Aphrodite into a church. All in all, it can be said that the history of the Bouleuterion does not only mirror the past the entire city, but is also connected to the political and cultural development of Asia Minor.

Due to the copyright, a full pdf version will be available in 2021.

The fact that private fountains surpass public fountains greatly in number is one of the conclusions of this paper, which also concerns the delivered quantity of water.  The private fountains, and the revelation of their non-domestic display function, have produced knowledge that is incompatible with the modern urbanistic approach of how water supply to an ancient city should be viewed and understood.

There is a rather dense network of Roman (indicated) amphitheatres in the Eastern Adriatic seaboard which testify to the civilizational level of individual Roman cities. However, a relatively small number of these Roman cities have been archeologically researched, and among them there is an even smaller number of preserved structures that inherited these inscriptions, which directly pertains to the aforementioned Roman amphitheatres.* Therefore, this work shall only encompass those epigraphic monuments which testified to public construction
in the deep past, based on the example of Eastern Adriatic Roman
amphitheatres (inscriptiones publicae). This epigraphic material has been thematically and topographically classified according to the relevant archaeological sites. This material will also be of exceptional importance to the chronological attribution of certain amphitheatre in the Eastern Adriatic seaboard. Nevertheless, indicated amphitheatres such as those in the Roman colonies of Iader and Aequum and the legion camp Tilurium will not be considered in this work, since there is no entirely firm basis for a precise dating of the structures because they are under-researched.** According to the data available to this author, thus far no inscriptions have been found in the area of the Pola amphitheatre from the era of Roman rule that would speak
to the architectural aspect of this structure.

Feuer hatte im Mittelalter und in der Frühen Neuzeit eine große Bedeutung und war für die Menschen immer präsent: als Wärmequelle in Form von Kaminen, Öfen oder Fußbodenheizungen und als zentraler Bestandteil der Küche; als Gefahr, der begegnet werden musste, beispielsweise durch Brandschutzverordnungen trotz denen es gar zu häufig dennoch zu verheerenden Bränden kam; aber auch als Waffe für einen Angreifer bei einer Belagerung. Diesem Spannungsfeld zwischen Lebenselixier und Lebensbedrohung widmen sich die Beiträge dieses Bandes. Bauforscher, Archäologen, Kunsthistoriker und Historiker untersuchen die verschiedenen Aspekte des Feuers – von der Nutzung in der Antike bis zur modernen Brandursachenermittlung werden alle Facetten des Themas beleuchtet.

Estudio sobre las estancias subterráneas localizadas en Hispania cuya finalidad, en la mayoría de los casos estuvo destinado al uso y disfrute del dominus y su familia para soportar los rigores estivales. Las aestiva loca, como las preferimos llamar atendiendo a las fuentes clásicas, han pasado prácticamente desapercibidas en los trabajos que versan sobre la arquitectura doméstica hispanorromana.  Habitaciones por otra parte muy son bien conocidas en la arquitectura norteafricana o de Italia.

Resumen e historia de este trabajo.- Una de las novedades que expuse en mi tesis doctoral sobre La Epigrafía Romana de Itálica (UCM, 23 de junio de 1983) fue consecuencia de tratar yo de descubrir cuál había podido ser la planta de la ciudad romana más antigua, conocida desde A. García y Bellido como ‘vetus urbs’, pero de la que no se sabía nada por estar oculta desde el siglo XVII bajo el pueblo de Santiponce (y actualmente casi por completo). Hallado que la republicana debía ser ortogonal, hipodámica, plasmé mi hipótesis en la fig. 1, pág. 692 del vol. I (véase aquí arriba, en el "file 2").

Poco después, del 9 al 13 de noviembre de 1983, asistí como oyente al congreso de Zaragoza que más tarde se publicaría bajo el título “Arqueología de las ciudades modernas superpuestas a las antiguas” (Madrid, 1985). Debido a que P. León Alonso, encargada de la ponencia sobre dicha problemática  en Itálica, afirmó allí que “la Vetus Urbs a efectos de investigación arqueológica era INUTILIZABLE” (por lo cual se dedicó a hablar de sus excavaciones en la Nova Urbs), en la siguiente pausa comenté mis novedades con los organizadores, quienes parecieron muy interesados, me pidieron que por la tarde las expusiera en público y se las enviara redactadas desde Madrid para su publicación en las actas. Estaban presentes tres relevantes miembros del Instituto Arqueológico Alemán: H. Schubart, Th. Hauschild y W. Trillmich, a quienes gustó mucho mi exposición, por el uso que hacía de distintos métodos de aproximación al aparentemente irresoluble problema de la ‘Vetus Urbs’ y sus convincentes resultados.

Enviados a Zaragoza mi manuscrito (“Algunas novedades sobre la planta de la vetus urbs de Itálica bajo Santiponce”) y sus láminas, como se me había pedido, al cabo de un tiempo, en vez de las pruebas de imprenta, los organizadores me devolvieron todo sin más explicaciones, aludiendo luego (en la p. 224 de las actas) a unas (por supuesto inexistentes) “normas” por las que “no se podía publicar”. Pero al mismo tiempo comprobé que habían permitido a la Dra. León, de una forma científicamente muy reprochable, que cambiara casi completo el texto de su ponencia original (que conservo, pues todas fueron repartidas a los asistentes). En la nueva versión de León, su “inutilidad de la vetus urbs para la investigación arqueológica” había pasado, de ser “total”, a sólo “parcial” (sic, p. 218), y además había metido en ella un largo capítulo, antes inexistente, y muy oportunamente llamado “Análisis arqueológico de la vetus urbs” (pp. 218-230). No hay palabras para calificar tales maniobras por ambas partes, hágalo el lector imparcial. A mí sólo se me ocurre la de "indecente".

Comentando con los colegas alemanes, que habían sido testigos de todo lo ocurrido, el triste final de mi manuscrito, me propusieron muy generosamente publicarlo en sus Madrider Mitteilungen, y en alemán (lo tradujo  el buen amigo M. Blech) para que pudiera ser más leído por los expertos de su país, ofreciéndose a realizar dos nuevos plano y mapa, obviamente de mejor calidad técnica que los míos. Todo lo cual acepté, como es fácil suponer, con tanta satisfacción como agradecimiento, completando el trabajo con diversas propuestas nuevas que sugerí para varios aspectos hasta entonces tópicos sobre Itálica: 1) unas nuevas causas, más reales que los consabidos “'lazareto” y “propugnaculum” (popularizados por García y Bellido: 1960, 14) para la elección del lugar, como la canalización y embarque de las riquezas mineras del SO (recién adquiridas por Roma desde 206 a.C., y necesarias para la continuación de la SGP), 2) la vecindad inmediata de Itálica al Baetis en época romana (la llamada “Madre Vieja”, brazo del río hoy desaparecido), 3) la posible condición jurídica de colonia latina de la Itálica republicana (mejor que el por entonces clásico “vicus civium Romanorum”), 4) la inexistencia de la “dípolis” propugnada por R. Corzo, M. Bendala y otros, 5) el modelo urbanístico concreto que probablemente se siguió para la Itálica fundacional, al que respondería ya la planta ortogonal de la Itálica más antigua: el de las 'coloniae militum' republicanas de Italia, como Capua, Marzabotto, o la primitiva Pompeya, o 6) unos motivos para la decadencia y abandono de la nova urbs trajano-adrianea a fines del siglo III de tipo político y económico, desechando así por segunda vez (esto ya lo había avanzado en las I Jornadas de Itálica, en octubre de 1980) la muy tradicional, pero lógica y geológicamente imposible explicación (aunque todavía hoy para muchos es la “oficial”) por el llamado “bujeo” de las arcillas expandibles, un fenómeno de cuarteo de suelos que a mi juicio hoy es explicable por el presente alejamiento del Guadalquivir unos 2 km, pero que no pudo existir en la Antigüedad. Éste es, pues, el resumen del trabajo.

En cuanto a su deriva posterior, el artículo fue bastante conocido en Sevilla gracias a una traducción española que hizo o encargó el arquitecto Alfonso Jiménez. Casi todas mis propuestas han ido sustituyendo a los respectivos tópicos, aunque la mayor parte de las veces como "algo sabido". Y la planta hipodámica de Itálica que propuse, aunque ignorada o combatida durante un tiempo, se ha ido abriendo paso, sobre todo cuando catorce años más tarde, en 1999, encontré pruebas del siglo XIX de que había sido así (cf. https://www.academia.edu/1075527/La_Vetus_Urbs_de_Italica_quince_anos_despues_la_planta_hipodamica_de_D._Demetrio_de_los_Rios_y_otras_novedades, esp. 168-172 y láms. 4 y 7), o con excavaciones posteriores que han detectado algunas calles en el mismo sentido y más o menos por donde las propuse (cf. R. Hidalgo en http://www.upo.es/revistas/index.php/romula/article/view/141/135 , fig. 2) y ha ido siendo reproducida, a veces citada pero la mayoría de las veces copiada, muchas sin ninguna cita de su autora, como si fuera algo sabido desde siempre. O hasta atribuyéndola falsamente a Demetrio de los Ríos, quien nunca escribió o dijo algo así, cf. ad ex. L. Gómez Araujo, de la UPO (en https://www.upo.es/arqueologia/export/sites/arqueologia/romula/documentos-romula/Romvla-9.5.pdf , pp. 123, 151), quien cita una “planta hipodámica de D. de los Ríos”, cuando éste nunca dijo algo así, y sólo habla de un “sostenido paralelismo” de las calles. Sobre estos avatares estoy preparando un documento con las citas e imágenes pertinentes, que espero poder subir en breve.

En mi citado artículo de 1999, en Academia, puede encontrarse mi propia traducción al español de él. Agradezco a D. Isaac Moreno la composición de este pdf.

Os Romanos exploraram quase todas as nascentes medicinais conhecidas hoje em dia na península Ibérica 1. Infelizmente, a maioria destes estabelecimentos foram destruídos ou grandemente danificados durante o renascimento do termalismo europeu, nos séculos XIX e primeira metade do XX da nossa era e, de entre os poucos que escaparam a este destino, só um punhado deles foram objecto de intervenções arqueológicas recentes. Em 2006, na sequência do projecto de construção de um parque de estacionamento subterrâneo no Largo do Arrabalde em Chaves, cujas sondagens arqueológicas prévias haviam detectado a presença de estruturas monumentais de época romana (Silva et al. 2007), deu-se início à escavação arqueológica do Balneário termal romano de Aquae Flaviae, com vista ao seu estudo e valorização.

In the late 2nd and the 1st century BC, Carthago Nova (Hispania citerior) underwent a major process of urban development, including the adoption of a monumental architectural style intended to convey a well-defined meaning. As a reflection of the intense commercial activity of the harbour, large investments were made in the construction of mercantile infrastructures and monumental buildings which turned the city into an artificial landscape designed to meet the urban elite’s need for socio-political projection and self-representation and inspired in traditions of Punic, Hellenistic and Roman architecture. The construction of a sanctuary in the Acropolis (Cerro del Molinete), probably in the 1st century BC, must have contributed to the reinforcement of the Hellenistic-Roman image that the city wanted to present. In this article, however, I suggest that the construction of the temple also stressed the Punic ethnic elements (by possible reference to the sanctuary of Eshmun on the hill of Byrsa, in Carthage), which played a significant role in the city’s identity in the early stages of Roman domination

In the Roman Period, the empire had given great importance to the construction of roads and bridges, since it had to provide fast access to the remote states in order to control the wide geography it was dominant in. The determination and classification of the differences in the architecture of the bridges built along the roads in the Imperial Period is the subject of our study. In the works carried out on the Roman Period Bridges, it is important to date the structure of the bridges with the inscriptions found on the structure and around it. But in order to fully understand the structure, all architectural elements should be examined with detail.
There is not one research about roman bridges in Anatolia, which discussed as a group and compared with others as a typological. In order to eliminate this deficiency, it is aimed to determine how many different types of bridges are according to their architectural and technical characteristics.
In the selection of the bridges to be examined in this project will be determined the western Anatolian as a center and will be added the samples with different types within the modern Anatolian boundaries. As a result of these investigations, similarities and differences should be grouped and typology should be formed. And we are lucky for this study, because we have a lot of example we can use. This opportunity make better this typological analys.

A study is made of Román remains located beside the Alhama River near the city of Gracurris (Alfaro, La Rioja). The site had already been plundered in ancient times so it was incomplete when uncovered, and a large number of the architectural materials had been moved from their original positions. The remains that are in the best state of preservation are those of a dam built of large sandstone blocks. A large monumental group can be restored from the isolated architectural materials left that were not plundered, including a nymphaeum and a small temple, in addition to the dam. It can also be shown that the Román road De Italia in Hispanias went through this site, since an Augustan milestone has also been found. After having been plundered, the site was completely buried by a layer of alluvium brought by a rise in the Alhama River.

Román ceramic materials were found in the excavation of this layer, but there were no remains from later periods, so the flood can be dated at the end of the 2nd century.

The architectural monuments and the urban development of the Syrian metropolis of Damascus are analyzed for first time on a broad collection of Greek and Latin literary sources. This information reveals a detailed picture of architectural monuments vanished in the course of history. Since archaeo-
logical investigations within the densely settled area of the old city of Damascus are rather limited, the value of these historical documents is pivotal in terms of the urban history. Several absolute chronological terms for the building or renovation of architectural monuments can be derived from information given by a variety of the Greek and Byzantine chroniclers which has not yet placed into the context of the  urban history of Damascus

The fight of Aeneas and his family from Troy does not seem to have attracted
the attention of African mosaicists nor that of their colleges from the entire
Roman Empire. Today we only recognize a single artwork, more specifcally, an
emblema from Karthago. Except a brief description made by the inventor, J. W.
Salomonson in 1965, the scene seems to have escaped the attention of researchers
and archeologists.

Keywords: Karthago, mosaic, Aeneas iconography, scenic composition, semantic reading.

In dieser Arbeit klassifiziert der Autor kronologisch und topographisch das Phänomen der antiken Naumachie
und richtet das Augenmerk dabei besonders auf deren Entstehung und Entwicklung durch die Jahrhunderte. Besondere wissenschaftliche Aufmerksamkeit genießen dabei die innerhalb von römischen Amphitheatern organisierten und aufgeführten Naumachien. Der Autor beschäftigt sich ebenfalls mit der Möglichkeit der Aufführung im weiteren Umfeld der ostadriatischen Küste. Durch interdisziplinäre Forschungen versucht er anhand kulturgeschichtlicher Quellen, in Bauten verewigter Inschriften, archäologischer Überreste, numismatischer Bauten und toponomastischer Überbleibsel, aber auch durch Rekonstruktionen, archivische, kartographische und andere
Informationsquellen, ihre Entstehung und Entwicklung zu belegen. Grund für die Entstehung und Aufführung der hier bearbeiteten Naumachien sind alle samt relevante Ereignisse für die römische Sozial-, Religions-, Militär und Kulturgeschichte, wie in etwa die erwähnten militärischen Siege, Triumphe und Einweihungen von Tempeln und anderen monumentalen öffentlichen Gebäuden. Alle hier aufgezählten Ereignisse sind außergewöhnlichen
Charakters und eng mit der Verherrlichung der kaiserlichen Persönlichkeit, seinen Siegen und in die Tat umgesetzten
Gebäudeplänen verbunden. Aufgrund dessen sind Naumachien Manifestierungen angemessenen Charakters,
die anspruchsvolle und teure Bauarbeiten erforderten (Aushebungen von Becken, Schiffbau, Überflutung der
Oberfläche, architektonische Eingriffe in den Wasserversorgungssystemen und Amphitheatern...). Die Distribution aller bis zum heutigen Zeitpunkt historisch bezeugter Naumachien führt hauptsächlich auf das Gebiet der
italienischen Halbinsel zurück, beziehungsweise die Stadt Rom, auch wenn die Möglichkeit ihres Erscheinens in
einigen römischen Provinzen nicht ausgeschlossen werden sollte. Szenographisch erstellte Naumachien wurden in authenthischer Kleidung, Bewaffnung und Ausrüstung aufgeführt und berühmte Schlachten der antiken Geschichte, wie zum Beispiel Athener gegen Perser, Sizilianer gegen die Streitmächte der Insel Rhodos oder auch Ägypter gegen Phöniziern wurden so nachgestellt. Die Entstehung, die Entwicklung und das Ende der hier bearbeiteten
Naumachien werden der Zeitspanne vom 1. Jahrhundert v. Chr. bis hin zur Spätantike zugeordnet.