Sanxay

The ruins of Sanxay are the remains of a Gallo -Roman spa and cult center in France, which was from the 1st century AD, built and operated to the 4th century. The archaeological sites are open to the public and are located in the Région Poitou- Charentes, in the department of Vienne, about 35 km south- west of Poitiers, on the banks on both sides of Vonne.

• 4.1 The large yard

Excavations

After the 4th century AD, the plant fell with their spa buildings and religious facilities, as they were less and less frequented by the Christianization.

The Belgian Jesuit and passionate archaeologist Father Camille de la Croix led from 1881 through the first excavations, which extended over about 15 ha and lasted three years. Due to lack of money he could be just the three main systems, namely the Amphitheatre, Spa Baths and the Temple district, obtained for the tour. This excavation is already mentioned in the 1888 appeared Meyers Encyclopedia.

Were except by Father Camille de la Croix further excavations by J. Simionoff (1970) and J.-C. Colin (1990 ) as the excavation director. The following, are no longer visible artefacts were discovered: between and adjacent to the main buildings, residential building settlements, where perhaps servants were housed clustered, and other buildings, such as the hotel industry, lodging for spa guests. In addition, the need for the operation of such a plant supply and disposal systems have been identified, such as roads, squares, aqueducts, water lines, water reservoirs and sewers. Slightly off the buildings on the right side of Vonne, there was a small sanctuary, a Fanum.

Gallery amphitheater

Overview of North West

North - East area, below the stage and stage wall

South West Area, below the stage and stage wall

Amphitheater

The amphitheater (and Fanum ), the almost sole building on the right bank of Vonne, was built into the natural topography of the 13 -meter high mountain slope. The Orchestra is not as usually oval, but circular, with 30 m diameter and is enclosed by the circular outwardly ascending rows of seats. The top bezel measures just 90 feet in diameter. The stage is located outside the Orchestra - circle. The extensions of the stage wall forming the vertical completion of the ending because rows of seats. Access to the rows of seats does not extend radially towards Orchestra - center but parallel to the stage wall. The amphitheater offered seating for approximately 6,500 spectators. The lowest seat grandstand is increased compared to the Orchestra level. This suggests that in addition to pantomime games and theater performances and gladiator and animal fights were on the program.

Spa Baths

Since 1889, the ruins of the thermal baths on the left bank of Vonne are protected by canopies to weathering. Today's roofs and walkways are more recent. The oldest parts are the remains of the foundations of worship or a temple with two identical rooms, from the first quarter of the 1st century in the rear area. In the following century, these temples have been converted into thermal baths. In the central area of the bathing complex are the most recently built thermal baths, an extension from the 3rd stand up early 4th century, the walls of which still partially up to a height of 4 meters.

Sudatorium

The Sudatorium is a sauna or a steam bath. The cavity under the circular pool of water was heated by hot air coming from two oppositely disposed fireplaces ( Prefurnia ) outside the bath room, located below the current access and its opposite passage. From the pelvic floor made ​​of waterproof mortar remains are preserved. He had a polished limestone paving, can be seen from the tracks. The material comes from the local area. Four openings in the bath room walls allowed hot air to pass through it and to heat it. In the corners of the room there were four flights of stairs, through which you could get into the water. Of these three approaches to detect.

Caldarium

From hot water exist apart from the Raumumfassungswänden, only a few tracks. So remnants of the hypocaust are seeing hot air ducts made ​​of bricks, through which the floor of the caldarium was heated. There were also two opposite hot air inlet openings, as in Sudatorium.

Tepidarium

From limestone flooring of the hot water bath larger areas of the edge regions are obtained. Possible to see the structure, with the stratification (bottom to top): Burnt bricks, coarse Roman waterproof mortar, limestone pavements. Further points are shown, in which the columns were that carried the pelvic floor. Is the vaulted with bricks inflow of hot air from the fireplace ( Prefurnia ) comes in the next room on a wall. A small room next door, a shower room, a staircase was reached. In him excess hot water of the tepidarium was conducted.

Natatio

On the western edge of the bathing complex are the remains of a 25 x 5 meter unheated pool, a natatio.

Gallery Spa Baths

Caldarium, hot air passage

Tepidarium with hot air inlet

Older cult site, later rebuilt in spas

Temple district

On the left bank of Vonne and with the same orientation as the Baths (east-west ), but separated by large open spaces from each other spatially, the scant remains of the temple have been discovered and exposed. His great extent, about 80 feet square, suggests monumental buildings, whose construction is dated to the first half of the 1st century. There were only remnants of the foundation walls.

The actual place of worship, the temple, from an octagonal Cella, enclosed by a cross-shaped gallery, was in the midst of a nearly square planar court, which was completely surrounded by four covered, yard open and arranged at the same height gallery transitions. The surrounding terrain made ​​in the south- east, so that the southern ( street side ) and east ( to the neighboring square -looking ) gear had to be built. The eastern gallery was accordingly outward two-storey ( with basement ) and as high open front with the three inputs configured, which led up three flights of steps. Through them, Kurpilger intake received into the holy area on the upper level of the courtyard, the galleries and the temple.

The origin of the sanctuary was probably Celtic. It served the worship of a sacred mineral springs, which was passed under the foundations of the cella. Their water was passed over a man-sized underground channel below the Hofbodens and the southern portico outside and then into a side of the main road spacious upper basin. In the area of ​​the channel, a limestone with the engravings POL ( APOLLO ) and the representation of an ex-voto " MERKUR " in 1992 exposed.

The large yard

Attributable to the temple area is probably 100 m tall the east immediately adjacent rectangular open space, about 90 ×. It was framed by the entrance facade of the temple and on the other three sides by monumental walls. In the middle of the square that is simultaneously in the axis of the temple, Father Camille has a circular building found with a diameter of 7.40 m. He defined it as a Tholos, a small round temple with a conical roof. The place is interpreted by others as a forum without religious purposes.

The dimensions of the court and his careful containment rather leave them appear to be correct a non- mundane task of the square and its assignment to the temple sanctuary. On the large courtyard in front of the imposing entrance facade, which underlined the importance of sanctuaries, 7000-8000 Pilgrims, after all, could congregate.

Gallery Temple District

CELLA, octagon with source version of SW

CELLA cruciform arcade gallery

Eastern arcade gallery, basement, right arcaded courtyard

Similar ruins

The ruins of Sanxay remember the excavations of the Gallo-Roman Cassinomagus, with just such a rural public thermal baths, with an amphitheater, several temples and a forum where near the village Chassenon (Charente). Visible are there mainly the thermal facilities, but to a much greater extent and better state of preservation.

Documents

From the Museum Kiosk available for inspection be issued:

• 5 sheets handwritten ( c 94 - S.Syga )
• Map of the finds (1881-1883, 1970, 1990),
• Floor plan of the bath complex (excavation findings), floor plan amphitheater archaeological features
• Various reconstruction sketches of the temple, the Arena and the thermal baths.