Event
Solva à la Carte
Press release
Flavia Solva
30.06.2023
Permanent Collection
Flavia Solva. Retracing the Romans
Press release on the permanent exhibition
Flavia Solva was one of the most cultivated towns in the Roman province of Noricum and is the most important Roman archaeological site in the country. Exhibits from over 140 years of archaeological research convey the feeling of ancient life at the original site!
Karl Peitler, Head of Archaeology & Coin Cabinet
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum / J.J. Kucek
Flavia Solva, 2019
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/N. Lackner
Flavia Solva
Universalmuseum Joanneum/J. J. Kucek
Flavia Solva
Universalmuseum Joanneum/J. J. Kucek
Exterior view, Flavia Solva
Photo: Franz Trampusch
Exterior view, Flavia Solva
Photo: Franz Trampusch
Flavia Solva, archaeological site
Photo: N. Lackner / UMJ, 2012
Flavia Solva pavillon
Universalmuseum Joanneum
Flavia Solva, showcase
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum
Showcase
Universalmuseum Joanneum
Showcase
Universalmuseum Joanneum
Digital terrain model of Flavia Solva,
Aerial photo: GIS Steiermark, Graphics: K. Löcker
Finds from Flavia Solva
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum
Flavia Solva is located in South East Noricum, on the western bank of the River Mur in the Leibnitzer Basin. The territory, the boundaries of which could still not be reliably determined, was surrounded by mountains in the south, west, north and north-east, and opened up to the east and the south-east; the most important transport connection was the road that ran alongside the river Mur. In terms of traffic routes the Flavia Solvia lay to the east of the route of the so-called Norica Main Road leading from Virumum to Ovilava and to the north of the socalled Amber Road. At the times that Flavia Solvia was also located on a ford, this street to the east in the direction of the Raab Valley was of lesser importance during the imperial era.
The expansion of the town as it is known today is around 650 metres in a north-southern direction and around 450 metres in an east-western direction. In the east the city was bordered by the River Mur, in the west by the burial grounds, while the expansion in the north and the south is defined by geophysical investigations and excavations. As the basis of the orthogonal street grid, the street width of 68 Roman feet was proposed; the Insulae corresponded in their width and length to twice and three times the width of the street, from which resulted four different sizes of housing blocks.
The housing blocks, named Insulae by the excavator W. Schmid (Regional Archaeologist from 1911-1950), correspond in their interior decoration not to the block of flats found in the cities of the empire, described with the same term; rather they are standardised plots of land with varying degrees of building on them. These so-called Insulae could equally have town villas built on them or workshops, businesses, or several houses with a dozen households, too. The houses within the Insulae most likely consisted of half-timbered buildings for the most part, though stone-wood dwellings in various styles were also found, as were purely stone buildings.
Flavia Solva has no city walls and no sewer system. The water supply came from wells and cisterns; the disposal of waste water was managed via seeping pits. As for the public buildings, a spa complex could be located with some probability in Insula XXII-West, while the amphitheatre has been ascertained in terms of location and size. The origins of the amphitheatre have been placed in the first half of the 2nd century A.D. The construction was made of stone and wood, with the spectator rows made of wood. The amphitheatre in Flavia Solva can still be clearly seen today on the terrain. The city’s sanctuaries could also be localised. The public buildings appear to have been located in the two more narrow rows of Insulae to the north and south of Street K.
Flavia Solva was laid out like an Italian colony with a regular orthogonal street grid. At the intersection of the two main streets called Cardo and Decumanus the town’s public buildings were often to be found. Street K, which runs between the two narrow blocks, may be one of the two main streets, namely the Decumanus, while the main street running north-south, the Cardo, may be Street E. With this in mind, the Forum would be located in the area of the Insulae XIII and XXIV, even though the results of the geophysical measurements suggest a large, plastered surface surrounded by columned halls and found in Insula XXVI as the forum’s location. The streets, up to 20 metres in width, were gravelled, and occasionally there was a covering of quarry stone; however, we cannot speak here of paving.
Museums and Locations
Press
