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Introduction The forum The harbour Houses and workshops The surroundings |
The remains of an important Roman settlement have been preserved in the village of Vidy, today part of Lausanne, on the northern shore of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman). In the area are sports stadiums and the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. The ancient name of the settlement must have been Lousanna. It is documented in an inscription set up by a curator of the inhabitants of the settlement.
SOLI GENIO LVNAE
SACRVM EX VOTO
PRO SALVTE AVGVS
TORVM P(ublius) CLOD(ius) CORN(elia)
PRIMVS CVRATOR VIKA
NOR(um) LOVSONNENSIVM II
IIIIIIVIR AVGVSTAL(is) C(urator) C(ivium) R(omanorum)
CONVENTVS HEL(vetici) D(e) S(uo) D(edit)To Sol, the guardian deity, and Luna
dedicated, based on a vow.
For the well-being of the Augusti,
Publius Clodius, from the tribe Cornelia,
Primus, curator of the villagers
of Lousonna for the 2nd time,
sevir Augustalis, curator of the Helvetic Congregation
of Roman Citizens, gave at his own expense.Limestone tabula ansata, found in 1739 (reused in a tomb).
W. 0.89, h. 0.635, d. 0.285. Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 62. Photo: EDCS-10800429.On the Tabula Peutingeriana Lacum Losonne is written above the lake. In the lake is a damaged text, Lacus Losane[---] (another name for the lake was Lacus Leman(n)us). In the Itinerarium Antonini the place is called Lacu Lausonio, in the Ravenna Cosmography Lausonna.
Detail of the Tabula Peutingeriana with Aventicum (Avenches VD), Colonia Equestris (Nyon VD), and Lake Geneva.Three inscriptions of skippers use Leusonna instead of Lousonna, and the settlement appears to have had a protective deity of that name. It can be read on a small votive axe found in 1984 at the western end of the settlement: Leuson(nae), "To Leusonna". The inscription is difficult to read. It has been suggested that it begins with Calvaisios, the name of the dedicant. Quite recently these letters were read as the name Caius Alpinius, followed by Isis, so that the deity would be Isis-Leusonna.
CALVAISIO(s) LEVSON(nae) V(otum) S(olvit) L(ibens) M(erito) To Leusonna. Calvaisios fulfilled his vow gladly, deservedly.
To Isis-Leusonna. Caius Alpinius fulfilled his vow gladly, deservedly.Small bronze votive axe dedicated to the deity Leusonna. H. 0.065, w. 0.045.
Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 54. Photo: Bartels 2021, Abb. 1. Drawing: EDCS-65000238.In antiquity the shoreline was about 200 meters inland, because the level of the water in the lake was three meters higher than today. The settlement was at least 1.2 kilometers wide and 250 meters deep. Roman walls have always been visible, and finds were documented already in the 17th and 18th century. Systematic investigations started in 1896, and excavations have taken place ever since. In 1936 a museum was openend, and in the 1970's a "Promenade archéologique" was laid out.
Plan of the settlement. N.P. Sardet, "Lousonna", Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz.Countless objects have been discovered. A selection can be seen in the Musée romain de Lausanne-Vidy. One of the highlights is a bronze disc with silver inlay depicting the Fall of Icarus. It was found in 1961 in a furnace. It may have been in the centre of the bottom of a libation bowl. Sol, the sun, is depicted with rays. Below him flies Deadalus, who is escaping from Crete with his son Icarus with the help of artificial wings. However, Icarus has come too close to the sun, falls into the sea and drowns. On the left is a deity of the sea and rivers, presumably Neptunus.
Bronze and silver disc with the Fall of Icarus. H. 0.118. Photo: Musée romain de Lausanne-Vidy.By a strange coincidence (?) we find Daedalus and Icarus again in a curious inscription. It is a dedication to the Suleviae, Celtic mother goddesses, by the children of Icarus, one of whom is called Daedalus.
BANIRA ET DOLVINDA E[t]
DAEDALVS ET TATO ICARI FIL
I(i) SVLEIS SVIS QVI CVRAM
VESTRA(m) AGVNT IDEN
CAPPO ICARI F(ilius)Banira and Dolvinda and
Daedalus and Tato, the children of
Icarus, for their Suleviae, who care
for you, as well as
Cappo, the son of Icarus.Limestone slab, found in 1719 in Lausanne-Malley, reused as lid in a tomb.
W. 0.47, h. 0.29. Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 63. Photo: EDCS-10800430.
Introduction
The forum
The harbour
Houses and workshops
The surroundings
Literature
Gruaz 1910; Gruaz 1914; Gruaz 1919; Gruaz 1921; Jahresbericht der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Urgeschichte 26 (1934), 64-68; 27 (1935), 60-65; 28 (1936), 61-66; Deonna 1938; Olivier 1938; Collart-Van Berchem 1939; Collart-Van Berchem 1941; Gilliard 1939; Deonna 1940; Martin 1941; Gilliard 1942; Gilliard 1943; Mercanton 1943; Van Berchem 1944(1); Gilliard 1947; Deonna 1947; Drack 1950, 114-116; Von Gonzenbach 1956; Von Gonzenbach 1961, 223-224; Meylan 1962; Bögli-Sitterding 1963; Bérard 1964; Martin 1965; Stucky 1966; Bögli 1967; Martin-Bögli-Sitterding 1969; Osterwalder 1970; Kaenel 1976; Kaenel 1977; Kaenel-Tuor 1978; Kaenel-Fehlmann 1980; Kaenel-Klausener-Fehlmann 1980; Laufer 1980; Paunier-Kaenel 1981; Kaenel et al. 1982; Rapin 1982; Paunier et al. 1984; Jahrbuch der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Ur- und Frühgeschichte 69 (1986), 268-270; Geiser-Abetel 1987; Paunier et al. 1987(1); Paunier et al. 1987(2); Drack-Fellmann 1988, 422-426; Paunier et al. 1989; Drack-Fellmann 1991, 156-163; Berti-Castella 1992; Luginbühl 1994; Luginbühl-Schnelter 1994; Fuchs-Dubois 1997; Geiser-Neal 1999; Luginbühl et al. 1999; Abetel et al. 2000; Fuchs 2003(3); Berti Rossi et al. 2005; Abetel 2007; Eschbach 2011; Bürge et al. 2013, 84-85; Anderes 2015; Freudiger 2016; Guichon et al. 2017; Hervé 2017; Rubeli 2017; Jahrbuch Archäologie Schweiz 100 (2017), 233-236; Guichon 2019; Guichon 2020; Guichon et al. 2021; Bartels 2021; Bielman Sanchez-Dubosson Sbriglione 2021; Guichon et al. 2023; Bielman Sanchez-Dubosson Sbriglione 2024.
[21-Feb-2024]
