The Field of the Gladiators on mosaics from ancient Aenona: archive research at culture institutions in Zadar and Nin

U radu se obrađuje rimski mozaik s prizorima gladijatorskih borbi i životinja otkriven za vrijeme Drugog svjetskog rata u Ninu. Radi iznimnog kulturno-povijesnog značaja, ali i vrlo teškog puta i devastacija koje je pretrpio od svog otkrića prije više od 75 godina do danas, mozaik već desetljećima privlači pažnju arheologa, povjesničara umjetnosti, muzealaca, konzervatora, pa i lokalnog stanovništva. Taj jedinstveni rimski spomenik danas je djelomično sačuvan, a o njemu su poznati tek šturi podatci. Monokroman, crno-bijeli mozaički tapet izvrstan je primjerak mozaičke produkcije ranog principata na prostoru provincije Dalmacije. Rađen je u tehnici opus tessellatum. Kompozicija je geometrijska, podijeljena na kvadratna, kružna i pravokutna polja koja prikazuju scene iz arene: brutalne borbe, slavlje i opremu gladijatora (equites, secutor, retiarius, murmilo, thraex) te brojne životinjske, vegetabilne i druge motive. Prizore nadopunjavaju natpisna polja s osobnim podatcima o gladijatorima koji su se u areni borili do smrti. Na temelju tipologije inačica bordura i drugih stilskih odrednica, nastanak mozaičkog tapeta može se datirati u period od druge polovice 1. st. do prvih desetljeća 2. st. U radu je posebno naglašena metoda istraživačkog rada kojom su prikupljeni i obrađeni izvori podataka za novu znanstvenu interpretaciju i valorizaciju tog sjajnog spomenika antičkog graditeljstva. Dokumentacija pohranjena u arhivima kulturnih institucija Zadra i Nina čini prvorazredan izvor podataka za prostorno-povijesnu studiju jednog dijela urbane jezgre grada Nina.The paper analyzes a Roman mosaic with representations of gladiator fights and animals, discovered during World War Two on the Field of the Gladiators in Nin (position: the Šalov Garden). This unique Roman monument has been only partially preserved; the data on it are scarce. The applied method of research is particularly emphasised in the paper. This wider research framework enabled new approaches to collecting relevant information from various sources as well as new avenues for interpretation and valorization of this remarkable monument of ancient architecture. The circumstances of this find are such that various ambiguities still remain caused, among other issues, by archaeology itself. Various records kept at the archives of culture institutions offer an excellent means of filling in the blanks. Hence, various historical records constitute a first – rate source of information regarding not only the analysis of the Roman mosaic but also a comprehensive spatio – historic study of a certain part of the urban core of Nin. The monochromatic, black-and-white floor mosaic is an excellent example of mosaic production from the period of the Early Principate in the province of Dalmatia. The composition is geometrical, executed in the opus tessellatum technique. Various arena scenes are depicted: brutal fights, celebrations, gladiator equipment, floral, faunal and other motifs. The scenes are complemented by inscriptions in Latin – personal data on gladiators (equites, secutor, retiarius, murmilo, thraex) who had fought to their death in the arena. Animal motifs may also be interpreted as arena scenes representing the hunt (venatio). Based on the typology of framing bands (bordure) variants and other stylistic features, the composition may be dated to the period between the second half of the 1st ct. and the first decades of the 2nd ct. The mosaic from the Šalov Garden is discussed within the context of the urban architecture of Roman municipium Aenona as a work of high quality, which may be compared to similar accomplishments built in considerably larger and more important centres of the Empire (villa in Zliten near Leptis Magna, villa in Nennig near Trier, etc.). Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the architectural context of the mosaic is in fact a luxuriously furnished urban villa (domus urbana). The location in the immediate vicinity of the forum complex and the quality of the mosaic suggest that the person who commisioned the work was a member of the aristocracy. Persons from those ranks were commonly distinguished members of the community, holding important positions in the public life and administration of Roman towns, provinces and the Empire. The remains of this extraordinarily valuable mosaic are to this day buried under a thin layer of soil at the location of the Šalov Garden. The Field of the Gladiators in Nin should be properly researched with the full scope of archaeological methods available. Following a proper research programme which this excuisite find most certainly deserves, the mosaic shoud be adequately protected, conserved and presented to the general public