Imperial bath complexes at Mediana archaeological site near Nis to open for public in spring 2020

The latest explorations at the Mediana archaeological site near Nis reveal that this ancient settlement also featured luxurious imperial bath complexes, taking up around 1,200 m2. According to the announcements made by those in charge, the complex will open for public in the spring of 2020.

Around 20 structures have been discovered at this location so far, and the wine cellar, the villa with an octagonal tower and large halls, the two early Christian churches and the necropolis have been explored for the most part.

Recently, after a pause of 50 years, experts from the Archaeological Institute of Belgrade, the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade and the National Museum in Nis continued exploring the bathing facilities at the villa with a peristyle, better known as Constantine's Villa.

– The bathing facilities were meant for guests who were staying at the villa itself. They are related to events held here and is a very important structure for the functioning of feast events, that is, dinners organized to honor the guests – says archaeologist Vesna Crnoglavac, assistant director of the National Museum in Nis.

The idea was for the exploration of bath complexes to be completed fully in slightly over two months, but, to the archaeologists' surprise, the facility turned out to be much larger than expected and further excavations were needed. Hot and cold water pools, saunas, massage rooms, dressing rooms and gyms were discovered. The facility was also determined to have featured floor heating and rich ornaments, such as mosaics, frescoes and sculptures.

– This kind of imperial bath complexes are also found in Gamzigrad, but those are considerably smaller – Crnoglavac adds.

The imperial bath complexes are located in the vicinity of the thermal springs of Niska Banja, on a property of around 50 hectares. They are assumed to have been raised by one of the most significant Roman emperors, Constantine the Great, in Naissus, his city of birth.

– This area features a large number of facilities. The central part features residential and administrative facilities. The residence itself has a large number of structures of various purposes, buildings where soldiers, service staff and everyone who lived and worked there stayed. We assume that the northern part features very luxurious private premises, where the ruler would spend his time – Vesna Crnoglavac explains.

Arheološki institut Beograd

Arhitektonski fakultet Beograd

Narodni muzej Niš

Gradska opština Medijana Niš

Vesna Crnoglavac

Mediana imperial bath complexes

Niška banja bath complexes

Mediana wine cellar

Mediana villa

Constantine s Villa

Mediana bathing facilities

Gamzigrad

Gamzigrad imperial bath complexes

Naissus

Constantine the Great