In 1941 a few rooms of baths, presumably belonging to a villa, were excavated by Otto Tschumi in Münsingen, to the south-east of Bern. Their importance lies in the polychrome floor mosaics and wall paintings. Since 2005 these are on display on ground provided by the company USM in Münsingen.
Otto Tschumi during the excavation of the rooms. Photo: Archäologische Lernorte im Kanton Bern.
View of the rooms during the excavation. Photo: Archäologische Lernorte im Kanton Bern.
Drawing of the mosaics. Fuchs 2010, Fig. 3.
The mosaics in their new protected setting. Photo: Archäologische Lernorte im Kanton Bern.A cold section (frigidarium) was excavated completely. Only a very small part was unearthed of adjoining heated rooms with raised floors. The floor of one half of the frigidarium has the head of Oceanus in the centre. In his hair are marine animals, including two heraldic dolphins. The head was surrounded by marine animals, kraters, and vegetative motifs.
The head of Oceanus. Photo: Museum Münsingen.
Detail of a krater. Photo: Archäologische Lernorte im Kanton Bern.The other half of the frigidarium was a basin with an apse. On the floor were marine animals, again with heraldic dolphins.
The mosaic with marine animals. Photo: Museum Münsingen.The fragments of paintings from the basin allowed a complete reconstruction. Above a plain red socle the paintings imitated marble. Above that was a narrow band of fruit and leaves. In the semidome of the apse were a god and two godesses, floating and holding veils above their heads. Below the deities were boats with fishermen, geese, ducks, and marine animals. Between the semidome and the barrel vault of the room were pine leaves. On the barrel vault were more marine animals. The mosaics and paintings have been assigned to the second half of the second century.
Reconstruction drawing of the paintings in the basin. Photo: Archäologische Lernorte im Kanton Bern.
Detail of the paintings in the apse, a boat with two fishermen. Photo: Archäologische Lernorte im Kanton Bern.Some more Roman walls were found in the area in 1964 and 1988.
Roman walls found at a short distance from the baths in 1964. Photo: Suter 1990, Abb. 7.
Literature
Tschumi 1941(1,2,3); Drack 1950, 97-99; Von Gonzenbach 1961, 137-141; Kapossy 1966; Suter 1990; Fuchs 2010.
[6-Nov-2023]
