Life in Cemelenum
Cemelenum stands as a testament to ancient Roman presence in the picturesque hills of Cimiez, towering above the city of Nice. Founded by Emperor Augustus in 14 BC, this strategic military garrison was erected to safeguard the Via Julia Augusta, a vital artery connecting Rome to its provincial territories and intersecting with other key Roman roads in Arles.
At its peak, Cemelenum housed at least three Roman cohorts, totaling between 1000 to 1500 men, and boasted a thriving population of up to 10,000 inhabitants.
The legacy of this bustling ancient city endures through the multitude of ruins and artifacts scattered throughout Cimiez and its environs.
Despite its rich archaeological potential, only the arenas and baths have undergone extensive excavation and scholarly investigation to date.
These excavated sites form the open-air segment of the Cimiez-Nice Archaeological Museum, offering visitors a captivating glimpse into the vibrant past of Cemelenum and its enduring significance in the annals of history.
Remarkably, by ancient standards, the arenas of Cemelenum were deemed “small,” accommodating approximately 5,000 spectators.
Despite their modest size, these arenas operated much like their larger counterparts, hosting a variety of spectacles including gladiator battles, wild animal hunts, torturous displays, executions, and games.
The bustling events held within these compact confines underscore the vibrant entertainment culture of the ancient Roman world, where the thrill of the spectacle captivated audiences regardless of arena size.
Cemelenum Roman baths
Bathing held a significant role in the daily lives of ancient Romans, serving not only as a hygienic ritual but also as a social gathering where individuals could unwind and socialize.
Within Cemelenum, three distinct baths provided luxurious facilities for its residents.
Adorned with marble floors and illuminated by glass windows, these baths offered a comprehensive bathing experience.
Bathers would progress through a sequence of rooms, starting with the Tepidarium (warm room), followed by the Laconicum (a circular chamber filled with intense dry heat), and concluding in the Caldarium (hot room).
For those utilizing the Northern Baths and Western Baths, a dip in the Natatio (warm water pool) was followed by a refreshing plunge into the Frigidarium (cold room). Each bath complex also featured spaces dedicated to exercise, expansive gardens, and essential facilities such as latrines.
These baths were supplied with water from aqueducts and maintained by an intricate network of pipes, which facilitated the circulation of water through the pools, flushed the latrines, and disposed of used water.
An innovative underfloor heating system, known as hypocaust, ensured a comfortable temperature throughout the baths.
Wood fires in a central furnace room generated heated air, which circulated through ducts beneath the floors and into the rooms.
Smoke from the fires was directed up flues in the walls and expelled outside, contributing to a cozy atmosphere within the baths.
Notably, the layout of the baths was designed to position the warmest rooms closest to the furnace room, gradually transitioning to cooler rooms farther away, ensuring an optimal bathing experience for all patrons.
Cemelenum – Archaeological Museum of Nice
The indoor archaeological museum at Cemelenum offers a captivating array of artifacts, showcasing an abundance of pottery, sculptures, and notably, amphorae.
Amphorae, vessels with a rich history dating back to the Neolithic period, were indispensable in the transportation and storage of various commodities.
In Cemelenum, these iconic containers likely played a crucial role in the trade and storage of wine, reflecting the region’s wine-making heritage.
Among the museum’s treasures are relics dating as far back as 1100 BC, attesting to the area’s long-standing habitation since the late Bronze Age. However, it is the artifacts left behind by the Greeks and Romans that constitute the museum’s primary collection.
One standout piece is a magnificent marble sculpture of Antonia Augusta, dating back to the 1st century AD.
Antonia’s lineage is illustrious, as she was the daughter of Mark Anthony, the mother of Claudius, the grandmother of Caligula, and the great-grandmother of Nero, making her a figure of significant historical importance.
Department of Alpes-Maritimes – Nice
Coordinates: Lat 43.719309 – Long 7.275125
Credits: Photos are ©melangedmagic – Evelyn Jackson – Photo Wikimedia Commons: Header by Édouard Hue (User:EdouardHue) CC BY-SA 3.0
