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214 Florin Fodorean 3. Germisara – the ‘five stars’ thermal accommodation in Roman Dacia The area between Geoagiu Valley, in the East, the village of Geoagiu in the South and the locality Geoagiu-Băi was named in the Roman era Germisara 20 . The toponym is of Dacian origin. Archaeologically and topographically, the Roman city and the Roman fortress were extended on the territory of the current village of Geoagiu, in the East, and Cigmău in the West. So, we can distinguish two points situated on the northern, right bank of Mureş, close to the main military road that connected Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa with Apulum. One of these, which took advantage of the thermal waters, had a civilian character. This place is situated North of Geoagiu. The other, which developed a little later, had a military character and included the Roman fortress from Cigmău and the civilian settlement (vicus militaris). We can say that under the name of Germisara three areas have functioned in the Roman era: 1. the Roman camp from Cigmău, situated on the “Turiac” plateau, at “Pogradie” point; 2. the civilian settlement (vicus militaris), placed between Cigmău and Geoagiu; 3. the thermal settlement, approximately positioned 5 km North of the Roman fortress 21 (Fig. 2). Tabula Peutingeriana places Germigera along the imperial Roman road Sarmizegetusa – Apulum, between Petris (Uroiu) and Blandiana (Vinţu de Jos), at IX m(illia) p(assuum) away from both of these settlements. Between the military fortress from Cigmău and the thermal settlement a Roman road was identified and investigated in 2002–2003 22 . As I noticed above, Germisara is not represented in Tabula with the specific vignette for thermal buildings. Instead, Ad Aquas (today Călan, Hunedoara County) is depicted with the specific vignette. The explanation relies on the fact that Germisara was famous as thermal settlement in Roman Dacia, but its position, north to the main road Sarmizegetusa – Apulum, determined the mapmaker, using the same principle of selecting the information, not to represent it with vignette. The remains of the Roman spa are visible today. They are situated west of the current thermal complex. The Romans were extremely pragmatic. This is the reason why here they literally excavated the travertine promontory and created an outstanding, open air, system of basins, on a circular surface of circa 90–95 m. During time, beside this, numerous other artifacts were discovered: 1. a temple dedicated to Nymphae 23 ; 2. statues representing the divinities of health protection (Aescupalius and Hygia, Hercules); 3. seven gold votive plates found in the nimphaeum 24 ; 4. a marble statue representing Diana; 5. small finds, mainly coins. Beside these, we are aware of the importance of this place if we analyze the Roman inscriptions found here. These are published in IDR III/3, no. 230–247 (votive inscriptions). Some of them were raised by very important persons involved in the administration of Dacia Superior. Marcus Statius Priscus 25 , governor of Dacia Superior in 157–158 AD, is mentioned at Germisara in two votive monuments for the gods and the protectors of the thermal waters 26 . He began his career as an equestrian officer, receiving a decoration from Hadrian during the Jewish rebellion. He then served as procurator in Southern Gaul before being made a senator and commanding two legions in succession. Priscus was in charge of Dacia as a governor between 157 and 158 AD. He held the consulship in 159. After this, he governed Moesia Superior in 160–161 and became governor of Roman Britain immediately afterwards, serving until perhaps as late as the mid 160 s . 20 See, for a short presentation, IDR III/3, 211–13. 21 PESCARU A./PESCARU E. 2001, 439–52; WOLLMANN 1968, 109–20. 22 FODOREAN/URSUŢ 2001, 203–20; FODOREAN 2006, 257–65. 23 On the cult of Nymphae in Roman Dacia: GHINESCU 1998, 123–44. 24 PESCARU 1988–1991, 664–66. 25 On this character: URLOIU 2010, 65–66. 26 IDR III/3, 240, 241. RUSU 1988–1991, 653–56; RUSU/PESCARU 1995, 33.
“Spa” Vignettes in Tabula Peutingeriana. Travelling Ad Aquas Fig. 2. Geoagiu Publius Furius Saturninus 27 was also the governor of Dacia Superior in 160 He may have visited the thermal settlement, since two inscriptions with his name mentioned were found here 28 . In IDR III/3, 232 Saturninus dedicates this votive altar to the health gods, obviously after a pleasant voyage here at Germisara, and an efficient thermal treatment, as one who entirely benefited of the healing powers of the thermal waters. Beside these two important persons, governors of Dacia Superior, monuments mention other people who visited this place and dedicated inscriptions. One of these monuments is IDR III/3, no. 233 29 . This votive altar, raised for the health of the three emperors (Septimius Severus, Aurelius Antoninus – Caracalla and Septimius Geta) was placed here from the order of the governor of the three Dacian provinces, Lucius Octavius Iulianus around 200–201 AD. The person designated to fulfill this order was the commander of the auxiliary unit of cavalry Ala Asturum. Aurelius Crhestus, a Roman citizen with Roman gentilicium (Aurelius) and a Greek cognomen, also dedicated an inscription for the health gods 30 . The members of the collegium Galatarum (citizens who came in Dacia from Asia Minor) dedicate an inscription pro salute imperatoris to Hercules Invictus 31 . The members of collegium Aurariarum, with their representing 27 PISO 1972, 463–471. 28 IDR III/3, 232; IDR III/3, 236. 29 Votive altar, fragmentary kept (broken in the right side), the camp of inscription is deteriorated in the center by a ‘circle’ shape, obviously a modern intervention made by a person who wanted to use the monument for a purpose. Its dimensions are: 100 × 52 × 46, with letters of 4 cm height. The monument was discovered in a point situated north of Geoagiu Băi, on the left side of the Geoagiu valley. It was kept for a while in the medieval castle Kuun, where it was identified and copied by A. Fodor. Text: Fortuna[e]/pro salute/aug(ustorum) n(ostrorum) (trium]/L(ucius) Octavius I[u]/lianus co(n)s(ularis) II[I]/Dac(iarum) fieri iussit/instante … L Ge– (?)/M A N T [p]rae[f(ecto) a]lae/Astu[rum_ _ _ _] B. Translation: ‘To (the goddess) Fortuna, for the health of our three augusti, Lucius Octavius Iulianus, consular of the three Dacia, ordered for this (monument), it took care for (this monument) Aelius Geminus (?), praefectus alae Asturum _ _ _ _’. 30 IDR III/3, 231. 31 IDR III/3, 234. 215
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