Vindobona#

Vindobona, Roman settlement mentioned by Ptolemaios (around 90-168 A.D.), in the Peutingersche Tafel, in the Itinerarium Antonini, and in the Notitia Dignitatum and by Jordanes (around 550), which was to become the town of Vienna. In the 16th century, first Roman finds were unearthed, mostly gravestones, research of the legion camp began in 1870; research is difficult since buildings were built on top of the Roman settlement in medieval and modern times, extensive excavations are impossible, discoveries usually confined to individual finds made in the course of building construction work. The name Vindobona stems from the Celtic language, and evidence of previous Celtic settlements on Bisamberg and Leopoldsberg hills has been found. Around 100 A.D., a castellet was built in the area of today´s 1st district of Vienna, on a side arm of the River Danube, which was the post of the 10th legion. It was built of stone, the floor plan was irregular so as to adapt to the uneven ground, its area about 1,850 m2. Among the remains of the castellet are a portion of the main canal along the camp wall to be seen at the fire brigade headquarters (Am Hof), parts of officers´ houses (Hoher Markt), and remains of buildings at Michaelerplatz. The civilian settlement and perhaps a castellet for auxiliary troops were located in today´s 3rd district. In Late Antiquity, Vindobona was the headquarters of the commander of the 10th legion and of a naval commander of units moved from Carnuntum to Vindobona. Finds are exhibited in the Museum of History of the City of Vienna and in district museums.

Literature#