ERGEBNISSE ARCHÄOLOGISCHER FORSCHUNGEN VON ANTIKEN LOKALITÄTENIN VARAŽDINSKE TOPLICE

SAŽETAK Mnogobrojna ljekovita vrela u Varaždinskim Toplicama uvjetovala su i odredila termalni karakter »Aquae lasae«, a debele naslage sedre utjecale su na specifičnu terasastu konfiguraciju Topličke Gore. Povoljni položaj naselja na križištu puteva, koji su vodili u smjeru istok-zapad i sjever-jug, bio je privlačan za Ilire (Jaši), a kasnije i za Rimljane. Kako se najjači izvor ljekovite vode nalazio u današnjem glavnom Iječilišnom parku, to je u antičko doba urbanizacija započela upravo na tom području. U toku trideset godina sustavnih istraživanja i iskopavanja, otkriveni su dijelovi javne arhitekture kupališnog i kultnog karaktera, dok na padinama Topličkog brežuljka i na njegovu podnožju, nađeni su ostaci stambenog, trgovačkog i sajmnišnog karaktera. Javni objekti u južnom, srednjem i sjevernom dijelu parka imali su monumentalni i reprezentativni karakter, a predstavljali su kupališne pogone, forum i Kapitolij s hramovima Jupitra, Venere i Minerve. Civilni dijelovi naselja bili su mnogo skromniji po sadržaju i načinu gradnje, iako ne manje važni za život naselja. Istraživanja su pokazala, da su kroz nekoliko stoljeća Rimskog carstva (I - kraja IV st.) život i izgradnja u Varaždinskim Toplicama bili vrlo intenzivni, da je važnost i korisnost ovog balneološkog centra stalno rasla, da bi postigla zavidnu razinu, osobito u doba cara Konstantina Velikog (306.-336.) kad su Aquae lasae obnovljene i postale poznate daleko izvan granica Pannonije Superior. Mnogobrojni kameni spomenici s natpisima i s prekrasnim reljefima, od kojih su veći broj njih posvećenih Nimfama-zaštitnicama zdravlja (jedan žrtvenik posvećenje jazejskim Nimfama), dijelovi skulptura i najznačajnija mramorna statua Minerve s postamentom i natpisom, otkrivena u njezinu hramu, remek djelo iz početka 2. st., mnogobrojni arhitektonski ulomci od stupova, pilastara, kapitela i baza, te konzola, arhitrava i dr. - svi oni govore o visokom obrtničkom i umjetničkom dometu majstora, koji su djelovali u antičkim Varaždinskim Toplicama. Dugogodišnja tradicija ovog antičkog lokaliteta pokazuje koliki značaj su imala sumporna vrela Aquae lasae, a epigrafski spomenici otkrivaju korisnike i dedikante iz različitih dijelova rimskog carstva kao i iz različitih slojeva društva. Pored vojnih lica nižih i viših činova, državnih i upravnih činovnika, lokalnih i provincijalnih funkcionara, javljaju se i predstavnici visokog društvenog statusa, sve do carskih službenika i samih careva. Međutim, i domaći živalj dao je važan doprinos u oblikovanju svih vidova života i stvaralaštva, koji se mogu pratiti prije svega u graditeljstvu drvenih nastambi (od hrastovine) podignutih na pilotima, vrlo izduženog tlocrta, podjeljenih na četverokutne prostorije s podovima od jelovine i ognjištima. Rezultati tridesetgodišnjih istraživanja osvjetlili su višestruki značaj ovog balneološkog i kulturnog centra, kojem su gravitirali ne samo gradovi i naselja Jugozapadne Panonije i susjednih provincija, nego gradovi i centri sa šireg područja rimskog carstva.Numerous mineral wells in Varaždinske Toplice have stimulated and determined and thermal character of the ancient settlement »Aquae lasse«. The thick layers of sediment conditioned the specific terraced configuration of the Toplice Hill. The favourable position on the crossroads of older routes, running from the East to the West and from the North to the South, suited both the lUiryans (lassi) and, later, the Romans. The urbanisation in this area started in the early period of the Roman Empire. In the span of thirty years of systematic excavations and research in Aquae lassae (1953 to 1982) several parts of the roman settlement were found. On the upper terraces, in the centralpark of todays Varaždinske Tophce, where the main thermal well was situated, the official and the religious buildings were errected, whereas the Southern slope and the foot of the Toplice Hill occupied the dwelling, commercial and craft quarters, which spread to the valley of Bednja. The mentioned configuration of the land and the disposition of the architecture complexes left an imprint on the modern settlements as well. While the official parts of the Roman settlement had a monumental and representative character, with thermal complexes, Forum and Captioline temples, the dwelling and commercial part was far more modest in the technique of building and the disposition of the ground plan, as well as in the assortment of the archeological material. The systematic research has displayed, that the living had building activities in Aquae lassae were very intense during four centuries (from the r*"\u27. to the end of the 4^ century). The development and the building phases can be observed on the complexes of the thermae, on the Forum and Capitolium. The importance and lucretiveness of this balneological center rose constantly and eventually reached the highest point during the rule of Constantinus I (306-336), when Aquae lassae were rebuilt and restored (the inscription of Constantinus the Great with data was found in the park in 19. century). At the time. Aquae lassae became well-known far over the border of Pannonia Superior. Many stone monuments with inscription, beautiful reHefs and details of decorations were found during the last two centuries, and especially during systematic excavations in the park and its neighborhood. A great number of altars and marble plates were dedicated to different deities, especially to the Nyphes (one of them to »Nyphis lassis«). Among sculptures, the most important is the monumental marble statue of goddes Minerva, discovered in her temple, with a postament and incription. It is as masterpiece from beginning of the 2" . century. Numerous fragments of colums, pillars, pilasters, capitals, bases, etc. show high standard of handycraft skill and art. The very long tradition of Aquae lassae shows what a great importance the sulphuric wells had for the settlement, and the epigraphic monuments revel the dedicants from different parts of the Roman Empire and from various classes of society: vSoldiers and officers of higher ranks, administrative officials, office-clerks, local provincial officers governers and even emperors. Moreover, the native artisans gave their contribution, especially in the way of building woodenoak houses founded on pilots, with very elongated ground-plan, divided into several rectangular rooms, with fir-wood floors and fireplaces. The result of 30 years of archeological excavations in Varaždinske Toplice have enlighted the complex character of this balneological cultural centre to which streamed not only the settlements and the towns in the Southwest Panonia and neighboring areas, but also the cities of the remote parts of the Roman Empire. In the late 4 century, probably during the war between Emperor Teodosius and the invader Maximus, destruction of the entire settlement took place