What visitors will be able to see at the new Interpretation Center Felix Romuliana: Antiquity-style labyrinth, replicas of excavations, Roman emperors’ busts… (PHOTO)

The City of Zajecar has opened the tender for the preparation of the detailed design of the Interpretation Center Felix Romuliana. According to the public call, the subject of the procurement are services of special design.

In concrete terms, the service of the preparation of the detailed design of the Interpretation Center Felix Romuliana encompasses the preparation of interpretation texts in Serbian and English, the detailed design of the graphic and product-design, as well as the scenarios for all multimedia acts.

The tender is open until December 2, and the details (in Serbian) can be found HERE.

The imperial palace Felix Romuliana (Gamzigrad, an archaeological site near Zajecar), is one of the most well-preserved Roman monuments in Serbia and, at the same time, one of the most characteristic examples of the concepts and architectural solutions from the beginning of the late Roman period.

Roman Emperor Galerius had it built in his birthplace in honor of his mother and intended to withdraw there upon his descent from power.

The preliminary design of the Interpretation Center Felix Romuliana, whose construction was recently finished, shows which exhibits are planned and what the visitors can expect.

The central theme of the Center is split into 5 sub-themes: STATE, PEOPLE, PALACE, GODS and APOTHEOSIS.

In the form of an interactive exhibit, the interpretation takes place in two spaces, but begins in the yard itself and the surrounding area around the Center. With the labyrinth developed according to the model of the famous Felix Romuliana mosaic, before the entrance itself, the visitors are introduced into the world of antiquity through play. The Roman-style labyrinth is carefully designed to fit into the natural landscape, using gravel to form clear paths which twist and turn according to a complex principle. Located in a peaceful field, the labyrinth provides a space for quiet, thinking and meditation, reflecting the spirit of the Roman architecture and philosophy, according to the preliminary design of the Center.

Upon entering the Center, on the left-hand side, a multimedia hall spreads, featuring modern equipment and playing a film about the archaeological site itself. It also serves as a conference hall for the needs of various expert gatherings and education. Farther to the left is a cafeteria where the visitors can rest and get refreshments.

The central interpretation room is accessed from the multimedia hall by turning right.

The space is split into zones divided by panels, and replicas of the most significant excavations are located in front of the panels.

The theme STATE is presented by an animation about the Roman Empire, with a special focus on the Crna Reka area and the tetrarchy regime.

The theme PEOPLE is presented by sculptures of significant people, that is, the rulers Diocletian, Galerius and Constantine and (probably the priestess) Romula.

The theme PALACE is presented by a model of the complex of the palace and the mausoleum on Magura. The physical model activates a 3D reconstruction of the palace and an animation of a walk around the palace, whereas the visitors who want to learn more are invited to use the interactive screen located next to the model to discover certain rooms, architectural details and their functions.

The theme GODS presents the gods that were honored in Galerius’ time, such Jupiter, Dionysus and others. Inspired by the Dionysus mosaic, the same is laid out on the floor, and touching it activates an animation which tells a story of the Roman gods that are represented in the palace.

The theme APOTHEOSIS is set up centrally. By entering into a kind of a sanctuary, the apotheosis is presented by a multimedia intervention with a focus on the melting of a wax figure and a bird’s skyward flight.

Additional themes in the center are ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH – the themes are additionally interpreted on the walls through a range of photographic materials and audio narration of the relevant archaeologists – and SITE LAYERS – as displayed on the wall opposite the entrance, covered by a drawing by Felix Kanitz.

As announced earlier, the Visitors’ Center Felix Romuliana, with all its special features, will open in December this year, and the public procurement of the multimedia equipment for the Interpretation Center is currently in progress.

B. P.

Grad Zaječar

City of Zaječar

Felix Romuliana

Gamzigrad

Visitors Center

Interpretation Center

Roman Emperor Galerius

labyrinth