Teurnia

The municipium Teurnia (also late antique: Tiburnia ) was a Roman town in Upper Carinthia. In late antiquity it was also the seat of a bishop and the capital of the Roman province Binnennorikum. Tiburnia is still a Titularerzbistum today.

History of the City

The ruins of ancient Teurnia located on the Lurnfeld at Holzer mountain in the district of St. Peter in the municipality of wood Lendorf four kilometers west of Spittal an der Drau. Already in 1100 BC, was settled there at Holzer mountain. Approx. 50 AD was the Roman town, with forum, basilica market, Capitol temple, thermal baths, living terraces and temples of the Celtic god of healing bloodlines.

Teurnia was one of the largest cities in the Noric kingdom. In its heyday, the town had 30,000 inhabitants. In late antiquity, the population declined; they gave to the residential terraces and used the slopes, since they had become useless for agriculture, as cemeteries. At the same time, the fortification wall was built. The inhabitants Teurnias were already Christians in the 4th century. Until its demise 610, the city was a bishopric. From the Vita Severini of Eugippius of 511 we learn that Severin was a bishop of Tiburnia / Teurnia named Paulinus in contact. Due to the fact that he sent warning letters to churches in his diocese, Paulinus was probably Metropolitan Binnennorikums. Teurnia can therefore be regarded as younger (after Virunum ) capital of the province. The last time the city and diocese were 591 mentioned in the letter of the Venetian and Rhaetian bishops.

Excavations

The Holzer mountain was known in medieval times as a locality of ancient remains. Many spoils of the surrounding buildings have their origin here. In the course of the modern era to greater interest in the Roman finds, but late was recognized as the site of the writing traditional city Teurnia. Professionally was excavated almost completely preserved the city since the accidental discovery of the necropolis church in 1908. 's The Mosaic founder of the governor Ursus in the right side chapel of the three-aisled basilica. The mosaic shows in twelve pictures interrelated Christological, mythological and biblical symbols as well as the donor's inscription of Ursus and his wife Ursina.

1984 discovered the current excavation director Dr. Franz Glaser the early Christian bishop church, which is now covered and open to visitors. The Episcopal Church had previously thought of the medieval parish church; However, Franz Glaser graduated from historical comparisons on the actual situation at the western city wall. The church dates from the early 5th century and was rebuilt after a fire at the beginning of the 6th century nave and two aisles and three apses again. Analogous to the situation at Hemmaberg the bishop's church may have served as a meeting of the Catholic community, while in the church cemetery the Arians held their religious services.

Highlight of the visit is the new Roman museum in the center of St. Peter in wood, which is stocked with numerous artifacts from the urban area of Teurnia. Near the museum there are the preserved remains of a Roman villa urbana (Town house), which has a special feature a simple hypocaust in Ypsilonform. In addition to the episcopal church the late antique bishop Hospitium (guest house ) was found; however, it is now covered again with soil. Further excavations are underway. Visitors received by showcases throughout the grounds explanations on the history of the city and to the excavations.