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Introduction The paintings The graffiti |
In Pully, to the east of Lausanne, the remains of a villa were discovered not far from the shore of the Lac Léman. They are below and next to the church of Saint Germain and a building that was dependent on the Abbey of Payerne and has been called Prieuré (Priory), even though it was a house for wine growers. The first remains were identified in 1921. Major excavations took place in the years 1971-1976. Some more investigations took place in the years 2002-2004, after the church was destroyed by arson in 2001. The first building phase has been dated to the second half of the first century. The latest modifications took place in the third century. The villa was partly destroyed by fires in the middle of the third and in the early fourth century. It was still in use in the fourth century after the second fire.
View of the church of Saint Germain, seen from the Lac Léman. Photo: Wikimedia, Gzzz.
Plan of the remains of the villa. May Castella et al. 2013.
A1: corridor; A2, A5: courtyard; A3: monumental basin; B1-B3: area with living rooms; C1: corridor; C2: courtyard; C8: "tower" (findspot of coin hoard);
C11-C12, C15-C23: baths; D1, D6, D10: exedra, corridor and porticus; D4-5, D7-9: rooms of pavillion D; F1, F2, F3: exedra (with paintings of charioteers),
porticus and corridor; F4-F10: rooms of pavillion F; G1: corridor; H1: access ramp; H2: double corridor. In grey: church of St. Germain and "priory".Only part of the main house could be unearthed. The most noteworthy feature that was encountered was the facade facing the lake, with two large exedras (semicircular rooms). These were located at a lower level than the residential area behind them. A ramp with low steps bridged the height difference of five meters (H1). The southern exedra (D1) was behind a porticus that was filled in at the end of the second century (D10). The northern exedra (F1) could be closed off with wooden doors. It was situated behind a porticus (F2), in the outer wall of which was a threshold of sandstone blocks, fifteen meters wide. On the threshold rested two brick piers, eight meters apart. With its upper floor it must have offered a beautiful view of the lake.
View of the remains of exedra F1 and porticus F2 in 1976. Photo: May Castella et al. 2013, fig. 8.
Reconstruction drawing of exedra F1 and porticus F2. May Castella et al. 2013, fig. 369.To the south of the exedras were bathing rooms, three of which were heated (C11-C12, C15-C23). To the west was a square tower-like room (C8). In the interior a metal vessel was found with 45 coins, mostly sesterces. The latest issue was from the reign of Maximinus Thrax (235-238 AD). The vessel must have stood on a piece of furniture that was destroyed in a fire.
The vessel with coins found in room C8. Photo: Archéolab, Pully.In the north-west part of the excavated area was a monumental basin, 37.60 meters long and 6.80 meters wide (A3). In the centre of each long side was an apse (diam. 1.50 m.).
View of the remains of basin A3. Photo: May Castella et al. 2013, fig. 42.
Reconstruction drawing of the villa. Archéolab, Pully.
Introduction
The paintings
The graffiti
Literature
Weidmann 1978; Jahrbuch der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Ur- und Frühgeschichte 66 (1983), 294-296; Drack-Fellmann 1988, 471-473; Fuchs 1990; Drack-Fellmann 1991, 210; Reymond - Broillet-Ramjoué 2001; Revue Historique Vaudoise 111 (2003), 259-261; 112 (2004), 209; 113 (2005), 259; Broillet-Ramjoué - May Castella 2004; Delbarre-Bärtschi - Fuchs - Weidmann 2008; May Castella et al. 2013.
[21-Mar-2024]
