Oescus

Colonia Ulpia Oescensium
Section of legionary fortress wall, Oescus
Oescus is located in Bulgaria
Oescus
Known also asOescus
Founded during the reign ofTrajan
Founded102
Abandoned586
Place in the Roman world
ProvinceMesia superiore
LimesDanube
Stationed military units
— Legions —
Legio V Macedonica da Augusto a Traiano
Location
Coordinates43°42′N 24°29′E / 43.700°N 24.483°E / 43.700; 24.483
TownGigen
CountyGulyantsi Municipality
StatePleven Province
CountryBulgaria
Local map
The mosaic "The Achaeans of Menander", found near the Temple of Fortuna in Ulpia Oescus, Pleven Museum
A caryatid from Ulpia Oescus, Pleven history museum
Fragment of fresco from the civic basilica of Ulpia Oescus, Pleven Museum

Oescus, Palatiolon[1] or Palatiolum[2] (Bulgarian: Улпия Ескус, pronounced [oɫˈpiɐ ˈɛskos]) was an important ancient city on the Danube river in Roman Moesia. It later became known as Ulpia Oescus. It lay northwest of the modern Bulgarian city of Pleven, near the village of Gigen.

For a short time it was linked by the longest and most famous stone bridge across the Danube, Constantine's Bridge, with the ancient city of Sucidava (modern-day Corabia, Romania).[3]

The city seems to have at one point reached a area of 280,000 m2[4] and a population of 100,000.[5]

Archaeological excavations have brought to light parts of the ancient city and are continuing.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Karagiorgou was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Procopius of Cesarea, De aedificiis: IV, 5, 6; FHDR: II, 463.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference database was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference panacomp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference archaeologyinbulgaria was invoked but never defined (see the help page).