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Introduction The forum Houses and workshops The amphitheatre |
The square of the forum measured 59.20 x 29.60 m. To the east of the square was a large basilica, to the west an equally large temple. Excavations were carried in 1940-1946 and on various occasions in the second half of the 20th century.
Plan of the centre of the city. Aberson et al. 2017, fig. 2.No remains of the temple have been excavated. Its existence has been deduced from a porticus that surrounded it on three sides, and from parallels in other cities. The porticus (37 x 35 m.) had limestone columns of the composite order. They supported a frieze with vegetative motifs, also of limestone. Small fragments were found of the painted decoration. In 1958 a few of its columns were erected on the shore of the lake. The porticus stood on top of a cryptoporticus, a half-buried corridor lit by splayed windows. In the cryptoporticus part of a statue of a man wearing a toga was found in 1997. It may well be the Emperor Augustus, offering a sacrifice. The structures have been assigned to the first half of the first century.
Model of the forum. Photo: Musée romain Nyon
Columns from the porticus of the temple taken to the shore of the lake. Photo: Wikimedia, Traumrune.
Parts of the frieze of the porticus of the temple and a reconstruction drawing. Photos: Bossert 2002(2), Taf. 34. Drawing: Rossi et al. 1995, fig. 113.
Part of a statue of a man wearing a toga, presumably the sacrificing Emperor Augustus. Bossert 2002(2), Taf. 8-9. The basilica was discovered in 1974. It had two main phases. Little is known about the first building, erected in the early first century. It rested on a cryptoporticus and measured 58 x 13 m. The square in front of the building was flanked by porticoes, behind which were shops. Shortly after the middle of the first century a completely new building was erected (no traces of a fire were found). It was 98 meters long and 26.50 meters wide, and had three naves, separated by two rows of columns. The short sides of the central aisle had apses. On the north and south side was an annex, also with an apse. The columns of the porticoes flanking the square were replaced by arcades. Only fragments were found of the painted decoration. A part of an architrave, taken from Nyon to Geneva, has been assigned to the second basilica. It has the head of Jupiter-Ammon.
Plan of the second basilica. Brunetti-Henny 2012, fig. 30.
View of the central nave of the second basilica, shortly after the excavation. Photo: Brunetti-Henny 2012, fig. 53.
Reconstruction of two naves of the basilica on the wall of a house on the site. Photo: vici.org, Werner Doenni.
Fragments of paintings from the basilica with graffiti.
PEDI[---] and VERECVND[e] EME MANCIPIOS.
Photo: Brunetti-Henny 2012, fig. 94.Fragments of an architrave from the basilica with the head of Jupiter-Ammon.
Limestone. H. 1.165, w. 0.80, d. 0.715.
Photo: Musée romain Nyon.Already in 1932 a polychrome mosaic with a marine scene had been found in the porticus to the north of the square. It has been dated to the late second or early third century. The remaining part measures 7.10 by 3.60 metres. A marine scene is depicted. In the lower part are marine creatures and two amorini, one using an amphora as a small boat and holding the sail, the other floating next to a fish. A dark area in the lower right corner has been recognized as part of a bust of Caelus, god of the sky, holding a veil over his head with outstretched arms. In the upper part are three large human figures. Only their lower part has been preserved, so that their identification is not easy. At the far right was most likely Neptunus in a chariot drawn by marine horses. At the far left is a female figure in the Amazon riding position on a marine horse, holding a bow: a marine Artemis, or perhaps Amphitrite, the wife of Neptunus. The identification of the figure in the centre is quite uncertain. The scene may have been inspired by the skippers who were active on the Lac Léman. They are documented in inscriptions found in Geneva and Lausanne.
The polychrome mosaic found in 1932. Photo: Brunetti-Henny 2012, fig. 73.
Detail of the polychrome mosaic found in 1932: a winged amorino on an amphora-boat. Photo: Brunetti-Henny 2012, fig. 80.A building to the north of the porticus surrounding the temple has been identified as the macellum, the central fish and meat market. It was built in the middle of the first century or somewhat later. It consisted of a long courtyard ending in an apse, flanked by shops. Again only small fragments were found of the painted decoration. In the area parts of a limestone mensa ponderaria were found, a "weights table", with cavities in the top that coincided with standard measures of liquid and solid food. It had been financed by a sevir Augustalis, a man involved with the Imperial cult (EDCS-10900253).
Reconstruction drawing of the macellum. Musée romain Nyon.To the west of the macellum of few rooms of baths have been unearthed. A black-and-white geometric mosaic was found here in 1946. For the city's water supply an underground aqueduct had been built, bringing in water from Divonne-les-Bains (France), to the south-west of Nyon. It was discovered in 1876. It was about ten kilometers long. Short stretches were found at several locations, and today one of these can be seen in Nyon, in the Parc de Mangette.
A stretch of the aqueduct in the Parc de Mangette. Photo: Musée romain Nyon.
Introduction
The forum
Houses and workshops
The amphitheatre
[28-Feb-2024]
