This 2,000-year-old mausoleum, believed to have been built for the local elite, was visible to anyone passing through the former Roman colony of Vienne, founded by Julius Caesar in 47 BC.
Gallo-Roman MuseumArchaeologists excavate a mausoleum found near Lyon.
Giulia Ciucci, scientific director of the archaeological site of Saint-Romain-en-Gal, stressed the symbolic significance of the project. Researchers believe that the monument was designed to demonstrate imperial prestige and belonged to a man “who, even after death, had to be present in the world of the living. This was undoubtedly a representative of the aristocratic elite, playing an important political role and linked to imperial power.”
What Saint-Romain-en-Gal was like in the times of Ancient Rome
The Rhone Valley was one of the most important arteries of the Roman Empire in Gaul, linking Mediterranean trade routes with the northern provinces. Saint-Romain-en-Gal was across the river from Vienne, a thriving Roman colony and political center.
Wikimedia CommonsThe Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome in 2016, before restoration work began.
The inspiration for the monument was apparently none other than the Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome, built in 28 BC. It housed the remains of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, as well as later members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty of emperors.
For Gaul’s provincial elite, building a smaller version of this magnificent tomb was both a tribute and an assertion of their own power. It linked their heritage to the heart of the empire, even as they lived on its periphery. In a way, the presence of this newly discovered mausoleum shows how far Roman influence and identity extended beyond Rome itself.
How the public was able to observe the progress of archaeological work in real time
The excavation was a fairly public event, open to visitors, students, and locals throughout the summer season. This rare transparency allowed visitors to experience ancient history in real time, which is unusual for such places.
“We all dreamed of being at the excavations and seeing the discovery made,” said Martine Publier, vice-president of the Rhone department, in charge of culture and tourism.
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