Miróbriga
Encyclopedia
Miróbriga is an ancient Roman
town located near the village and civil parish of Santiago do Cacém, in the municipality of the same name in the south-west of Portugal
. Archeology revealed a that the town occupied the site of an ancient Iron Age
settlement that existed since the 9th century B.C.
With the Roman colonization a commercial area developed around the Forum. The baths
, among the best preserved in Portugal, consist of two adjoining buildings, possibly for male and female use respectively. The residential areas are still little known. Relatively close to the baths, there is a bridge with a single, semicircular arch. The hippodrome
, the only one whose entire ground plan is completely known in Portugal, is located further from the centre.
Excavations and investigations (W. Biers, 1988), suggest that the earliest settlement began to take shape in the 9th century B.C. (Iron Age
), and that the defensive walls began appearing between the 4th-3rd century B.C. This settlement occupied an area of 11,800 m², with the population inhabiting the area along the embankment and north-east corner of Castelo Velho, of which only a wall and temple remains (alongside the Roman forum).
By about the second half of the 1st century Roman occupation began, expanding the site and occupying an area of 28,000 m². At this time the thermal baths and paved road along the southeast were constructed, reflecting the Flavian
economic prosperity. Around the first half of the 2nd century, the construction of the Oriental baths and hippodrome
was began, followed by a second phase of construction in the second half of the 2nd century and 3rd century.
Around the second half of the 2nd century, there were signs of abandon, that may reflect the period of political crisis caused by barbarian invasions during this period. By the end of the 4th century, there is a marked reduction in the population, although a level of continuity persisted on the site: primarily around the small Chapel of São Brás.
The ruins were rediscovered and referenced by André de Resende
in the 16th century, but they were never fully studied until the 18th century.
On 1 June 1992 the Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico (IPPAR) (forerunner of Institute for the Management of Architectural and Archaeological Heritage took over the management of the site, by Decree-Law No.106F/92. This was followed in 1996-1997 by the acquisition of the lands that surrounded the site, as part of the ZEP-Zona de Protecção Especial (Special Protection Zone) designation. On 1 February 1999, a dispatch (No.180/99) from the Ministries of Equipment, Planning and Territory Administration, Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Culture, recognized the importance of safeguarding the Roman ruins, and authorized the construction of an Interpretative Centre. The project began in 2000, in a project designed by architect Paula Santos, that included a 700 m² space.
. The halls are warmed by a hypocaust
system that heated the floors of baths, which was located in the south part of the buildings. It was a subterranean system formed by pillars and arches, with tile, that allowed the circulation of warm air to produce heated environments, supported by kilns.
", an Imperial temple
(to worship the Roman Emperors) and a temple dedicated to Venus
. Between these two are the remains of an older temple dedicated to the local divinity. North of the forum are the ruins of the market and the visitors houses, separated by another road.
was a rectangular space with curved seating on the northern end, while segmented seat on the south, used for chariot or horse races. It was a 370 metre by 75 metre space, bisected by a spine with posts on either end, and a triumphal arch on the south entrance.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
town located near the village and civil parish of Santiago do Cacém, in the municipality of the same name in the south-west of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. Archeology revealed a that the town occupied the site of an ancient Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
settlement that existed since the 9th century B.C.
With the Roman colonization a commercial area developed around the Forum. The baths
Thermae
In ancient Rome, thermae and balnea were facilities for bathing...
, among the best preserved in Portugal, consist of two adjoining buildings, possibly for male and female use respectively. The residential areas are still little known. Relatively close to the baths, there is a bridge with a single, semicircular arch. The hippodrome
Circus (building)
The Roman circus was a large open-air venue used for public events in the ancient Roman Empire. The circuses were similar to the ancient Greek hippodromes, although serving varying purposes. Along with theatres and amphitheatres, Circuses were one of the main entertainment sites of the time...
, the only one whose entire ground plan is completely known in Portugal, is located further from the centre.
History
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
), and that the defensive walls began appearing between the 4th-3rd century B.C. This settlement occupied an area of 11,800 m², with the population inhabiting the area along the embankment and north-east corner of Castelo Velho, of which only a wall and temple remains (alongside the Roman forum).
By about the second half of the 1st century Roman occupation began, expanding the site and occupying an area of 28,000 m². At this time the thermal baths and paved road along the southeast were constructed, reflecting the Flavian
Flavian dynasty
The Flavian dynasty was a Roman Imperial Dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 69 and 96 AD, encompassing the reigns of Vespasian , and his two sons Titus and Domitian . The Flavians rose to power during the civil war of 69, known as the Year of the Four Emperors...
economic prosperity. Around the first half of the 2nd century, the construction of the Oriental baths and hippodrome
Hippodrome
A hippodrome was a Greek stadium for horse racing and chariot racing. The name is derived from the Greek words "hippos and "dromos"...
was began, followed by a second phase of construction in the second half of the 2nd century and 3rd century.
Around the second half of the 2nd century, there were signs of abandon, that may reflect the period of political crisis caused by barbarian invasions during this period. By the end of the 4th century, there is a marked reduction in the population, although a level of continuity persisted on the site: primarily around the small Chapel of São Brás.
The ruins were rediscovered and referenced by André de Resende
Andre de Resende
André de Resende , the father of archaeology in Portugal, a Dominican friar.He spent many years traveling in Spain, France and Belgium, where he corresponded with Erasmus and other learned men. He was also intimate with King John III and his sons, and acted as tutor to the Infante D...
in the 16th century, but they were never fully studied until the 18th century.
On 1 June 1992 the Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico (IPPAR) (forerunner of Institute for the Management of Architectural and Archaeological Heritage took over the management of the site, by Decree-Law No.106F/92. This was followed in 1996-1997 by the acquisition of the lands that surrounded the site, as part of the ZEP-Zona de Protecção Especial (Special Protection Zone) designation. On 1 February 1999, a dispatch (No.180/99) from the Ministries of Equipment, Planning and Territory Administration, Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Culture, recognized the importance of safeguarding the Roman ruins, and authorized the construction of an Interpretative Centre. The project began in 2000, in a project designed by architect Paula Santos, that included a 700 m² space.
Architecture
Castelo Velho hill (245 metres) dominates the site that is one kilometre north-west from the urban centre of modern Santiago do Cacém, which overlooks the northern plain of Chãos Salgados. Miróbriga is situated in a privileged location, on the ancient roadways of the region with access to the coast. Within close proximity is a Windmill of Cumeadas.Baths
The settlement is structured around Roman roads with many paved accesses. Around the west-east axis are the ruins of the residential homes. To the east, are the former baths constructed over a canal and composed of two buildings in a "L" shape ("Western Baths" and "Eastern Baths"). Each building has: an entry into the massage hall, a gymnasium, changing room, the bathing space, which included the frigidarium (cold baths, tepidarium (warm baths) and caldarium (hot baths) and a communal latrineLatrine
A latrine is a communal facility containing one or more commonly many toilets which may be simple pit toilets or in the case of the United States Armed Forces any toilet including modern flush toilets...
. The halls are warmed by a hypocaust
Hypocaust
A hypocaust was an ancient Roman system of underfloor heating, used to heat houses with hot air. The word derives from the Ancient Greek hypo meaning "under" and caust-, meaning "burnt"...
system that heated the floors of baths, which was located in the south part of the buildings. It was a subterranean system formed by pillars and arches, with tile, that allowed the circulation of warm air to produce heated environments, supported by kilns.
Forum
To the east of the baths is a small, single-arch bridge, that provided access along the west-east access that leads to the "forumForum (Roman)
A forum was a public square in a Roman municipium, or any civitas, reserved primarily for the vending of goods; i.e., a marketplace, along with the buildings used for shops and the stoas used for open stalls...
", an Imperial temple
Imperial cult
An imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor, or a dynasty of emperors , are worshipped as messiahs, demigods or deities. "Cult" here is used to mean "worship", not in the modern pejorative sense...
(to worship the Roman Emperors) and a temple dedicated to Venus
Venus (mythology)
Venus is a Roman goddess principally associated with love, beauty, sex,sexual seduction and fertility, who played a key role in many Roman religious festivals and myths...
. Between these two are the remains of an older temple dedicated to the local divinity. North of the forum are the ruins of the market and the visitors houses, separated by another road.
Hippodrome
The hippodromeHippodrome
A hippodrome was a Greek stadium for horse racing and chariot racing. The name is derived from the Greek words "hippos and "dromos"...
was a rectangular space with curved seating on the northern end, while segmented seat on the south, used for chariot or horse races. It was a 370 metre by 75 metre space, bisected by a spine with posts on either end, and a triumphal arch on the south entrance.
Interpretative Centre
The Interpretative Centre (the most recent addition) is located on an elevated area at the entrance to the site, with several paths leading away from this site into the ruins.See also
- LusitaniaLusitaniaLusitania or Hispania Lusitania was an ancient Roman province including approximately all of modern Portugal south of the Douro river and part of modern Spain . It was named after the Lusitani or Lusitanian people...
- Sines (the bay of Sines was used as port by the civitas of Mirobriga)