Listed 1 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "LANGRES Town CHAMPAGNE-ARDENNES" .
LANGRES (Town) CHAMPAGNE-ARDENNES
Andematunum (Langres) Haute-Marne, France.
Gallo-Roman city a few km from the sources of the Maine on a sturdy scarped spur
overlooking the Langres plateau, which acts as a mole dividing the waters of the
Saone, the Rhone, the Meuse, and the Seine. Andematunum was also the meeting-point
of several pre-Roman roads running E-W and N-S, and the center of the powerful
civitas of the Lingones.
It has a long history of human habitation: Neolithic flints and axes
and Bronze Age weapons (hatchet, dagger, knives) mark a continuity that fades
somewhat in the Iron Age. Nevertheless it is generally admitted that the Lingones,
appearing at the time of the conquest to be loyal allies of Caesar, had established
themselves on the plateau long before, and had their center in the oppidum of
Langres. Their advantageous position after the Roman road network was built, and
their privileged status as a federal city (granted them by Caesar) favored the
building of a large city. At first part of Belgica, then of Germania Superior,
and finally of Lugdunensis Prima, Andeinatunuin was one of the leading cities
of E Gaul.
An open city in the Early Empire, Andematunum probably extended a
little way beyond the present-day ramparts to the S, but not as far as Saint-Geosme.
Some elements of the city plan have been located, but the density of the modern
town prevents its complete recovery. The Rue Diderot, however, may lie along the
original cardo. The 3d c. invasions brought about some retrenchment on the N and
middle sections of the spur, and the hasty erection of a surrounding wall, with
many reused blocks. This wall was probably duplicated in the 5th c. by another
wall enclosing a wider area. Four gates, more or less modified in the Middle Ages,
gave access to the city: to the S, two gates known as the Porte de Moab and Porte
au Pain; to the N the so-called Longe-Porte, a few traces of which remain; and
to the W the Porte du Marche. This last is the only one preserved, although it
is built into the present-day rampart (20 m long; preserved ht. 10.7 m; ht. to
the arch soffit 7.95 m). The gate has Corinthian pilasters set between two arches
whose archivolts consist of three unequal bands; above is a frieze of arms. The
upper section is missing. The date, which is debated, seems to be before the 3d
c. The monument probably is a so-called triumphal arch, subsequently included
in the Late Empire circuit wall as, it is generally agreed, the Longe-Porte was
also.
Inscriptions, blocks from monumental architecture, colossal statues,
and various other finds indicate that the site contained many public monuments
such as temples, a theater, and baths, but none of these has yet been located
with certainty. On the other hand four necropoleis have been found: to the N,
on the hillside, to the NE, to the S below the present-day Citadel, and the fourth
to the E. Chance finds of mosaics, bas-reliefs, statuettes, inscriptions, thousands
of coins, and a considerable quantity of pottery attest the density and prosperity
of the settlement. Moreover the wealthy residential quarter, discovered several
km from the city on the Baume plateau along with a necropolis filled with grave
gifts, should probably be considered in connection with Andematunum.
Excavations at the foot of the present-day rampart at the modern Porte
des Auges have recently uncovered a huge complex: three main buildings arranged
around a large rectangular courtyard, and also some structures aligned parallel
to a road; the walls of these latter structures still stand in places over 4 in
high. So far the purpose of the different parts of this complex has not been determined,
but the abundant pottery finds and coins indicate an early date, the first half
of the 1st c. A.D. This date agrees with the evidence of hundreds of potters'
stamps uncovered in chance finds: here the 1st c. is, on the average, four times
more frequently represented than the 2d c. Terra sigillata comes from Arezzo (a
few samples), but mainly from La Graufesenque and sometimes Lezoux, far more often
than from E workshops. Similarly, the most numerous coins are those from the Early
Empire, particularly the reign of Augustus.
Most of the finds uncovered at Langres are in local collections: the
Musee des Antiquites Nationales at St. Gerinain-en-Laye, the Musee du Breuil,
and especially the Musee Saint-Didier at Langres have important collections, notably
of sculptures and inscriptions.
P. E. Frezouls, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Feb 2006 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Receive our daily Newsletter with all the latest updates on the Greek Travel industry.
Subscribe now!