Roman villa: an excursion into Kreuznach's Roman history
Artefacts from a villa from the Roman Cruciniacum on display in the rustic atmosphere of the Römerhalle museum demonstrate the luxury wealthy Romans indulged in in the Nahe region.
300 years of Roman culture and history on the Nahe
Two outstanding exhibits are mosaic floors from the Roman peristyle villa dating back to the 3rd century AD immediately adjacent to the Römerhalle museum. Once a magnificent mansion with over 5,000 square metres of interior floor space, and more than fifty rooms on the ground floor alone, all that remains today are remnants of the foundation walls. Remnants of stucco work, marble reliefs and wall paintings give an impression of the former splendour of the interiors. The images of the gladiator mosaic, the underfloor heating system of which is preserved, depict gladiator and animal fights in dramatically increasing intensity. The Oceanus mosaic was found in the central ceremonial hall of the villa. The dominant image is the sea god depicted in the apse after whom this mosaic is named. His dominion is symbolised by a variety of lovingly illustrated sea creatures and a Mediterranean coastal landscape with architecture and scenic depictions of ships and merchants. Tombstones from Bingerbrück show Roman soldiers depicted in half relief. Clothing and weaponry as well as inscriptions provide valuable information on Roman military history. The display collections also illuminate further aspects of Romanisation and the Roman way of life.
Soldiers’ tombstones - e.g. Tiberius Julius Pantera
There were burial sites along the roads between the Rhine and Nahe rivers. They were found when the railway line was built in 1860, and the tombstones and sarcophagi were recovered. The tomb inscriptions are an important source of information on the history of the Roman era. Tombstones from Bingerbrück show Roman soldiers depicted in half relief. Clothing and weaponry as well as inscriptions provide valuable information on Roman military history. A tombstone that has become particularly famous is that of Tiberius Julius Pantera, a soldier from Sidon who died near the Nahe. The researcher James D. Tabor makes a historical connection between him and the family of Jesus.
