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Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Ripa Pannonica in Hungary (RPH) Nomination statement The inscriptions, gravestones, altars found at the limes settlements provide information about the movement of peoples related to the Roman army, and show the flexibility in Roman military thinking and strategy. Through these, the power and strength of the Roman Empire, as well as its crucial influence for many centuries after its fall, is made even clearer. Thanks to its strategic flexibility the Empire was able to react appropriately to the frequently changing political conditions, which contributed to a large extent to its ability to survive for so long. At the same time, the redistribution of soldiers significantly contributed to the intermingling of the Empire’s peoples, as well as to the spread of the goods, commodities and cultural beliefs of distant nations. Already at the end of the 2 nd century Tertullian reported that Christians permeated the units. The life in the forts along the limes, as well as the movement of the legions throughout the empire and particularly along the borders, contributed a great deal to the spread of Greco-Roman civilization, the expansion of the oriental cults and the proliferation of Christianity. The governors of Pannonia and the commanders of the troops belonged to the sanatorial and equestrian order, and having originated from Italy or the provinces they made a carrier sometimes up the emperorship. Antonius Primus for example who was born in Gallia, served in different posts and provinces, and as general of the Pannonian and Moesian legions gained for Vespasian the victory in the civil war in 69. During the time of Trajan, Pannonian legions were detached to Moesia and legions from the Rhine Valley replaced them. At the end of the 2 nd century a Syrian archery unit was stationed in Ulcisia (Szentendre), while a Syrian mounted regiment served at Intercisa (Dunaújváros). The province of Syria also included Palestinian lands, and the gravestones of the Syrian units indicate soldiers of oriental descent in many cases. Other auxiliary troops arrived from other provinces, but the soldiers were replaced by Pannonian as a result of the local recruitment. Following the suppression of the Bar Kochba Revolt, the legions brought with them many Jews who had been thrown into slavery. Next to Komárom a Bar Kochba Revolt coin was recovered from a Roman soldier’s grave. The Legio I Adiutrix was stationed at Brigetio (Komárom) in Pannonia, but also took part in a few campaigns against the Parthians. The Legio II Adiutrix, which fought against the Dacians and participated in the campaigns against the Parthians, the Marcomanni and later the Sassanids, was at Aquincum. The Ripa Pannonica also bears witness to the ebb and flow of Roman thought; several shrines to the mystery religion of Mithras, Iuppiter Dolichenus and other oriental gods which including in Aquincum. At Gerulata (Bratislava–Rusovce, Slovakia, on the right bank of the Danube – Oroszvár in Hungarian), in addition to figures of the Roman pantheon, there were several scenes from the syncretic Gallo-Roman religion, as well as from eastern hunting cults, including an altar raised to Cybele, the mother of the gods, the Phrygian (present-day Turkey) god Attis and the Egyptian goddess Isis. The frequent redeployment of the legions along the borders starting from the 2 nd century was also a significant factor in the spread of Christianity. 46
Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Ripa Pannonica in Hungary (RPH) Nomination statement (iv) be an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history The Summary Nomination Statement for the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site states, “the physical remains of the frontiers of the Roman Empire demonstrate the power and might and civilization of the Romans. As such they are evidence of the development of the Roman Empire and its spread across much of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. They therefore illustrate the spread of classical culture and Romanisation which shaped much of the subsequent development of Europe.” The Ripa Pannonica represents an outstanding example of the technological development of Roman military architecture and its frontier defense system. The well designed and strategically located military structures on Pannonia’s border were effectively able to serve the defense of the empire along this often endangered part for centuries. It bears exceptional testimony to the military traditions of Rome and the flexibility with which they could make use of the local features. According to archaeological investigations, the technology and the construction of the military structures and roads bear witness to the high skill of the architects and surveyors of the Roman army in Pannonia. The maintenance, periodic reconstruction and modernization of the system of fortifications over many years demonstrate the high degree of centralized Roman control. This did not manifest itself to a great extent in extraordinary building techniques or architecture in the case of the structures of the Ripa Pannonica. Instead it demonstrates that the work performed by the engineers based upon imperial standardization, and centrally developed types constituted the foundation that spread Roman technical civilization throughout their enormous empire, due to which its multinational army was able to operate effectively. The remains of the limes border defense structures along the Ripa Pannonica are visible or have been identified through archaeological methods in numerous locations. Not only the excavated remains, but those under the ground that have been identified with the aid of aerial archaeology, field walks or geophysical surveying verify the standardized system of ground plans, measurements and choice of locations for the forts and fortresses, as well as the consistent, empire-wide structural norms for the laying of the limes road. These call attention to the advanced state of Roman military science, help in understanding the process of development and attest to the existence of an effective Roman technological system of training. For many centuries after the fall of the Empire these former borders determined the principle outlines for the structure of Europe’s nationalities, cultures, religions, civilizations, technology and often politics, and many times this is clearly evident up to the present day. 3.b Proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value 3.b.1 Outstanding Universal Value The Summary Nomination Statement for the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site states: “The Roman Empire is of undoubted outstanding universal value. Spanning three continents, the Empire developed and transmitted over large parts of Europe a universal culture based on Greek and 47
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