In Oberweningen, some twenty kilometers to the north-west of Zürich, a villa was found at the locality Heinimürler. In the second half of the 19th century and in the early 20th century a large part of the main house and baths were excavated. Between 1999 and 2006 an economy building, perhaps a hall for storage, and a possible temple were investigated. In 2001 a bronze bust of Mars was found.
Plan of the main house and the baths. Drack-Fellmann 1988, Abb. 420.
The bust of Mars discovered in 2001. H. 0.08. Photos: Gemeinde Oberweningen.Fragments of stucco reliefs and of paintings with depictions of architecture were found, but the most important discovery was a large mosaic, half of which had been preserved. It was discovered in 1888 in a room with a hypocaust in the main house. Within a black-and-white geometric pattern were polychrome panels: rows of five small square panels and a central octagonal panel. In the square panels were birds, vegetative motifs, vessels and geometric motifs. In the large central panel were two racing greyhounds. Between the dogs was the text CEXA VICIT, "Cexa has won". Cexa must be the Celtic name of the lower dog. The meaning is unknown. In the panel below this scene was the text ATTILLVS FECIT, "Attillus made this".
Drawing of the mosaic. W. 4.15, h. 5.80. Blümner 1889, Taf. XIII-XIV.
Detail of the central panel. EDCS-10800627; Kolb et al 2022, nr. 532. Von Gonzenbach 1961, Taf. 18.
Small panels with birds and vegetative motifs. Von Gonzenbach 1961, Taf. 19.
Literature
Keller 1864(2), 114; Ulrich-Schoch 1889; Blümner 1889; Viollier 1913; Viollier 1914; Drack 1950, 102-104; Von Gonzenbach 1961, 167-171; Drack-Fellmann 1988, 460-461; Drack-Fellmann 1991, 196; Horisberger et al. 2012; Delbarre-Bärtschi 2014, 260-261. Plus: Jahresbericht der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Urgeschichte 6 (1913), 129-130; 7 (1914), 94-96; 83 (2000), 247; 84 (2001), 242-243; 89 (2006), 260. The final publication (2012) is not readily available.
[9-Apr-2024]
