The Roman Citadel in Pontic Olbia

Abstract

This article treats the southern part of Pontic Olbia, where in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD internal fortifications were erected. The arrangement of the buildings there has been investigated and the lay-out of the structures excavated over the last forty years has been analysed. Individual finds have been examined and also the extent to which they correspond to the main elements in the material culture of Roman military camps within the European limes, particularly those within the Danubian provinces closest to Olbia. The conclusion has been drawn to the effect that the southern part of Olbia in the 2nd century AD and the first half of the 3rd was indeed a citadel, which housed a contingent of auxiliary troops and which could with every justification be compared to an auxiliary fort.