NyonColoniaIuliaEquestrisgrijs.gif </HEAD> <BODY background="../../../home/grijs.gif" LINK="#0000ff" VLINK="#800080"> <h1><em>Colonia Iulia Equestris</em>- Nyon </h1> <p>See this text in <a href="nyoncoloniaiuliaequestris.htm"> <img src="../../../home/de.gif" width="16" height="16" border="0"></a></p> <h2><br> Foundation and structure</h2> <p>The <em>colonia Iulia Equestris</em> was founded by Julius Caesar in 54 BC, on the territory of the Helvetii and was also known as Noviodunum. The earliest levels suggests an initial settlement at the end of the 1<sup>st</sup> century BC, however, and it is not clear where/whether a predecessor may have lain, that would bridge this gap between the foundation date and the archaeologically attested start of occupation. The monumental centre of the town dates to Augustan times. </p> <h2><br> The town and its structure</h2> <p>The fragmentary state of our knowledge about the town does not permit a reconstruction of its original size. As far as is known, the town had an orthogonal street grid but no city wall has been found. <br> <a href="nyon001_engl.htm"><br> <img src="nyon001a.jpg" width="100" height="62" border="0" align="absbottom"></a> Plan of the <em>Colonia Iulia Equestris</em>-Nyon</p> <h2><br> Public buildings and infrastructure</h2> <p>The public buildings in the centre of the town covered at least eight insulae, with a <em>forum</em>, baths and <em>macellum</em> side by side.</p> <p>A two aisled (59 x 23m) basilica and a series of rooms flanking two sides of a porticoed courtyard are known from the first forum of the first half of the 1<sup>st</sup> century AD. Around 70, this structure was replaced by a three aisled basilica, which had additional structures at the side, including the curia: the council chamber for the decuriones (town councillors). To the west, and separated from the street, was (as in Augst and Avenches) the sacred area of the forum, surrounded by a portico and cryptoporticus, although no temple has yet been identified in the courtyard. <br> </p> <table width="80%" border="0" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td width="32%"><div align="center"><a href="nyon002_engl.htm"> <img src="nyon002a.jpg" width="100" height="120" border="0"></a></div></td> <td width="35%"><div align="center"><a href="nyon003_engl.htm"> <img src="nyon003a.jpg" width="100" height="110" border="0"></a></div></td> <td width="33%"><div align="center"><a href="nyon004_engl.htm"> <img src="nyon004a.jpg" width="100" height="55" border="0"></a></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div align="center">Reconstructed plan of the early phase forum (pre c.70 AD)</div></td> <td><div align="center">Reconstructed plan of the later phase forum (post 70 AD)</div></td> <td><div align="center">Model of the Forum</div></td> </tr> </table> <p>To the northeast, the market hall (macellum) and bath complex adjoined the forum. In the long rectangular macellum rooms opened on both sides of a central corridor, which terminated in an apse. Only a few rooms of the baths are known, one of which has a mosaic and a basin. Both buildings are dated to the 60s or 70s AD. </p> <table width="59%" border="0" cellspacing="5"> <tr> <td width="50%"><div align="center"><a href="nyon005_engl.htm"> <img src="nyon005a.jpg" width="100" height="72" border="0"></a></div></td> <td width="50%"><div align="center"><a href="nyon006_engl.htm"> <img src="nyon006a.jpg" width="100" height="71" border="0"></a></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div align="center">Plan of the northern part of the forum and adjoining buildings</div></td> <td><div align="center">Reconstruction of the <em>macellum</em></div></td> </tr> </table> <p>To the east of the centre, the amphitheatre was probably built around 100 AD. The (c. 36 x 50m) arena has been excavated and had two niches, probably for caging animals, lying opposite each other.<br> <br> <a href="nyon007_engl.htm"> <img src="nyon007a.jpg" width="100" height="101" border="0" align="absbottom"></a> Plan of the amphitheatre</p> <h2><br> Residential buildings</h2> <p><a href="nyon008_engl.htm"> </a>Relatively little is known. Stretches of wall and mosaics have been found to the north-west of the forum whilst, to the north-east (Bel Air), a large rectangular building with an internal courtyard can be reconstructed as part of the insula occupation. Stone construction was common from the mid 1<sup>st</sup> century AD onwards. <br> <br> <a href="nyon008_engl.htm"><img src="nyon008a.jpg" width="100" height="55" border="0" align="left"></a>Development of the house to the north-east of the forum (Bel Air).</p> <h2><br><br> Water supply</h2> <p>Water was brought to Nyon from Divonne via an 11.5 km, subterranean aqueduct. The sewers discharged into Lac Leman.</p> <p><strong>Visible remains</strong><br> The plan of the forum basilica has been marked on site on the surface with a large reconstruction drawing of the interior. <br> <a href="nyon009_engl.htm"><br> <img src="nyon009a.jpg" width="100" height="62" border="0" align="absbottom"></a> Location of the Roman forum basilica, with reconstruction, in modern Nyon</p> <p><br> <strong>Museum</strong><br> The finds from are displayed in Nyon's Musée romain.</p> <p>Text: Thomas Schmidts <br> </p> <h2><br> Select bibliography</h2> <p>P. Bonnard Yersin , Nyon, la ville et le musée romains. Guides archéologiques de la Suisse 25 (Nyon 1989).</p> <p>P. Bonnard, La ville romaine de Nyon: répertoire des fouilles et trouvailles, bibliographie du site. Noviodunum 1. Cahiers d'Archéologie Romande 44 (Lausanne1988).</p> <p>Ph. Bridel, Le programme architectural du forum de Nyon (Colonia Julia Equestris) et les étapes de son développement. In: La ciutat en el món romà 1 (Tarragona 1994) 137-151.</p> <p>W. Drack/R. Fellmann, Die Römer in der Schweiz (Stuttgart 1988) 453-457.</p> <p>R. Frei-Stolba, Recherches sur les institutions de Nyon, Augst et Avenches. In: Cités, municipes, colonies (Paris 1999) 29-95. </p> <p>P. Hauser, Pierre/F. Rossi, L'amphithéâtre inattendu. Dossiers d’Archeologie 232, 1998, 48-55.<br> <br> P. Hauser, Pierre/F. Rossi, Le centre monumental. Dossiers d’Archeologie 232, 1998, 26-37. </p> <p>P. Hauser, Pierre/F. Rossi, Urbanisme et habitat. Dossiers d’Archeologie 232, 1998, 18-25. </p> <p>J. Morel/S. Amstad, Un quartier romain de Nyon. De l’époque augustéenne au IIIe siècle (Les fouilles de Bel-Air/Gare 9 - 1978-1982). Noviodunum II. Cahiers d'Archéologie Romande 66 (Lausanne 1990).</p> <p>F. Rossi, Nouvelles données concernant l'urbanisme de la Colonia lulia Equestris (Nyon). - in: La politique édilitaire dans les provines de l’empire Romain. Actes du 1<sup>er</sup> Colloque Roumano-Suisse (Cluj-Napoca, 1993) 145-148. </p> <p>F. Rossi/P. André, Un chantier de construction. La basilique de Nyon. Dossiers d’Archeologie 232, 1998, 38-47. </p> <p>F. Rossi/P. Hauser, L'amphithéâtre de Nyon: il était temps. Archäologie der Schweiz 22/3, 1999, 135-144. </p> <p>F. Rossi/C. Olive/P. Ramjoué u.a., L'area sacra du forum de Nyon et ses abords. Fouilles 1988-1990. Noviodunum III. Cahiers d'Archéologie Romande 66 (Lausanne 1995).</p> <p><br> </p> </BODY> </HTML>