Emona (Colonia Ivlia Aemona) was a Roman settlement in the area of today’s Ljubljana. The Ljubljana Basin was interesting from a strategic point of view, connecting the Adriatic and Central Europe and further the Baltic (Amber Route). It was located at the crossroads between Aquilea, Siscsio, and Poetovia and was then navigable on river Ljubljanica. The Romans probably came to today’s territory of Ljubljana in the middle of the first century BC. Merchants settled under the castle hill. During this period, there was a military camp along Karlovška road – Tribune. This was the basis for building a fortified settlement (castra) on the left bank of the Ljubljanica.
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Emona – Position
Emona was built in the years 14 and 15 AD, at the time of the death of Emperor Augustus. The city had a regular rectangular shape and dimensions of 523 m x 435 m (23.2 ha). It was surrounded by a stone wall 6-8 m high, 2.5 m wide, with more than 20 towers and a double defensive moat from 3 directions. It was located at the present location of Mirje and Gradišče. The southern walls are still partially preserved along the Mirje road. The south gate was near the intersection of Mirje and Barjanska road. The eastern walls ran along today’s Emonska roadand Vegova road. The east gate was next to the French Revolution Square and led towards Siscia. The western wall ran along Snežniška Street, past Hrovatin’s Garden and the end was at the bend of Valvasor Street. Near Horovatin’s garden was the West Gate with the road to Aquileia. The northern wall ran from Valavasor’s road, across the south side of Republic square, all the way to the University of Ljubljana. The northern gate was along today’s Slovenska cesta and led to Poetovia.
Emona – City
The place was part of region Roman Italia. The first settlers came from Italy mainly from the Po Valley. These were wealthy families with slaves and retired soldiers. The city is estimated to have about 5,000 inhabitants. The main road was in direction N-S (cardo maximum), 21 m wide. Perpendicular to it was second biggrest road in direction W-E. Next to them was a grid of smaller streets. Water was initially supplied from wells, and later with three water aqueducts (Šiška hill, Golovec). There was a system of heating and drainage of wastewater – sewers. Inside the city walls, there were 47 Insul (mostly residential buildings). In the central part, there was a forum (square) 64 m x 190 m around which were administrative buildings – east, temple – west, shops, and inns on the north and south sides. At the entrances to the city were cemeteries, one of the largest in the empire. In the time of prosperity, there was a suburb (with potters, port, and smelter, …) and settlements outside the walls (Ig, Pržanj, …).
Emona – History
- The first settlers came from the Roman Empire around 44 BC
- Emona was built in the years 14 and 15 AD
- The rise of the city in the 1st and first half of the 2nd century
- Beginning of the end, Macromanic wars 160-180 AD
- Maximin destroys Emono in 238 AD
- The Civil War of 314 AD
- Emona became a diocese in the 4th century
- Siege of the Goths – Alaric, 401 AD
- Huns finally demolish the city, the inhabitants emigrate at the beginning of the 6th century (Novigrad)
- The Ljubljana Basin was revived again with the arrival of the Slavs in 568 AD
Emona – Remains
Today, there are quite a few remnants from this period in the city. The best way to visit as many of them as possible is the Path through Roman Ljubljana (10€). It is a circular path, about 2 kilometers long. In a bit more than an hour, you visit 10 locations with the remains of Emona. The ticket (map) is available at the City Museum and at individual points, you can access audio descriptions via QR. I suggest you start and end the trail at the museum, where the remains of an ancient road are in the basement. The points along the way and more:
- City Museum – remains of a Roman road in the basement and other artifacts (Gosposka 15)
- Roman fountain (Star Park, entrance to the garage house)
- Northern Emona Gate (Slovenska cesta)
- Emonec (replica at Star Park, original in the museum)
- iEmona – multimedia presentation in the underpass (underpass next to Slovenska)
- North wall (Ursuline monastery)
- Rotunda – early Christian church (Jakopič Gallery)
- Early Christian center (entrance from Erjavčeva, closed in winter)
- Roman sewer (Aškerčeva)
- Roman wall with Plečnik‘s pyramid (Mirje)
- Emona house (Mirje, entrance between houses, closed in winter)
Emona – Summary
Today, in Ljubljana, the Roman Emona is woven into the fabric of the city. If you have a good hour in Ljubljana, I suggest you visit the remains of ancient Emona. You can only see individual locations in conjunction with other attractions in the city. You can buy a ticket and walk to the points marked on the map. For those who are really enthusiastic, there is a guided tour, where you will be taken around Ljubljana in costumes from that time. All locations are in the city center, easily accessible, even for the disabled and children. I hope that on your next walk around the city, you will stop at one of the points and imagine what it was like in that place two millennia ago.