A visit to Diocletian´s Palace at Salona (Split)

Diocletian´s palace (built between 295 and 305 A.D.) is among the largest and best preserved monuments of the roman world.

The building complex, measuring roughly 215 by 180 meters, was modelled on a roman fortress, with a large tower at each of it´s corners, and four gates, one on each side. Like a roman military camp it was divided into four quarters by two main streets.

The Emperor´s quarters were situated in the southern section of the palace. This was were all official and religious ceremoniers took place, whereas the lodgings of the servonts, the imperial guard and soldiers as well as warehouses and the workshops were situated in the northern section.

Original state according to 1908 study by austrian archeologist G.Niemann:



I stayed in beautiful Croatia last week and was deeply impressed by this gigantic complex, built of white limestone and high quality marble, which nowadays houses half of the historic city center of Split.
By getting up VERY early I managed to get some pictures for you before a hundred thousand tourists flooded the site. Here is a view from the north:



The Northern Gate (Porta septemtrionalis, called "Porta Aurea" from the middle ages) was the main gate from which the Emperor entered the complex (the two octagonal towers that covered the gate are since lost). The outer four nieches used fo feature statues of the Tetrarchs, the central one most likely an eagle:



The inner courtyard (propugnaculum) of the gate:


The main north-south-street ("cardo") leads to a monumental court, the Peristyle, which formed the northern access to the imperial apartments in front of the Vestibule:



It also gave access to to three temples on the West and Diocletian's mausoleum on the East:



Diocletians appartements formed a block along the sea front and were interconnected by a long room along the southern facade (cryptoporticus) from which through 42 windows and 3 balconies a view of the sea was opened:



The Vestibule (Rotunda) was is a circular hall, once topped with a dome, 17 meters in height and 12 meters in diameter:



Set below what were the Imperial apartments, the Cellars of Diocletian Palace represent one of the best preserved ancient complexes of their kind in the world:



Here is a view of the Eastern Gate (Porta Orientalis, later "Porta Argentea"):



Enjoy and share your travel stories and coins of Diocletian!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

An imperial issue of Diocletian

An Alexandrian Tertradrachm of Diocletian featuring Tyche holding rudder and cornucopiae.

 

J.G., Great photos, thanks for sharing . I'd love to visit this site if we ever get control of the Covid-19 pandemic. Pictured below are a few of my favorite Diocletian nummi .

 

Very interesting photos and lovely coins, @Julius Germanicus! Informative and entertaining write-up, too, as always!

Diocletian with bags under his eyes. Dude needed a vacation, indeed!


Diocletian, AD 284-305.
Roman billon follis, 10.80 g, 23.6 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 302-305.
Obv: IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, Laureate head, right.
Rev: SACRA MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae; star in right field, R P in exergue.
Refs: RIC vi, p. 362, 103a; Cohen 434; RCV 12815.

 

Great place to visit, thanks for sharing your photos.

 

Wow, fantastic pics, especially with no tourists shown. Great job, @Julius Germanicus .


RI Diocletian 284-305 CE AE Radiate Fraction VOT XX



RI Diocletian Ӕ Quinarius 1.46g 16mm Rome AD 284-305 IOVI CONSERVAT AVGG, Jupiter stndng thunderbolt sceptre RARE RIC 193

 

Very nice write up. We were in Croatia in 1984, but did not get to Split…Umag and Portoroz

 

Very nice write up and photos. Need to schedule a trip to Croatia.

Here's a coin of the period - post abdication follis which calls upon "The Providence of the Gods." As you probably know Diocletian planted cabbages with his own hands at Split.

"If you could show the cabbage that I planted with my own hands to your emperor, he definitely wouldn't dare suggest that I replace the peace and happiness of this place with the storms of a never-satisfied greed."

A quote aimed at the restlessness of Maximian Herculis to re-assume the Imperial power.

Diocletian (A.D. 284-305) AE Follis

Weight: 6.90 grams

Diameter: 23 mm

Mint: Follis struck at Alexandria (ALE Mintmark) between 308 and 310, after his abdication.

Obverse: DN DIOCLETIANO BAEATISS, laurel-wreathed bust right wearing mantle, holding olive branch and holding mappa in the other hand.

Reverse: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM, Providentia standing right, extending right hand to Quies, standing left, holding branch and sceptre.

Reference: Sear 12922, RIC VI Alexandria 80 corr.

 

@Julius Germanicus Thanks for the OP. Nice clear pictures. I hope
to visit the many places posted on this forum. Thanks.

 

Amazing.. would love to visit some day.


OBV: IMP CC VAL DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG
Bust Laureate, right
REV: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI
Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamysover left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae.
Cyzicus Mint


Diocletian
Alexandria
Obv: A K G OVAL DIOKLHTIANOC CEB, laureate, cuirassed bust right
Rev: Eirene standing left, wearing long chiton and peplos,
holding olive-branch in right hand, transverse sceptre on
left arm, L-B across fields

 

I have been to Split and the palace too, and it was a great place to go on vacation!

I have to admit that I looked hard at some of the piles of rubble to see if perhaps there was a coin laying around in there. But no. I’ve had to pay for all my Diocletian coins

 

Fantastic pics, glad you had a great time, love to go there one day.

 

My wife and I stayed for a week in an apartment situated in the Adriatic facing side of the the remains of Diocletian’s retirement residence. The palace comprising a wonderfully well preserved complex of buildings includes an important architectural innovation; the structural use of the arch springing from supporting columns (these are present in the peristyle).

The palace contains the heart of the modern city of Split, which has grown up around it. A short walk from the palace is a good museum housing Roman artifacts, sculpture and mosaics.

Salona is not Split. Salona, the Roman administrative center for Istria is an archaeological site 30 minutes or so inland, by bus.

 

Here are some pictures from Split's museum collection. I wasn't collecting when these shots were taken.



Salona

 

I absolutely loved visiting Split and Diocletian's palace about eight years ago. We were fortunate enough to stay inside the compound, which was like breathing the ancient air. The compound is fascinating and well preserved, and the photos from Julius Germanicus make it look like they continue to work on it. Salona was also fascinating. And I just liked Split itself, with that laid-back coastal town vibe. I would go back in a heartbeat. This photo is of the whole compound from a small restaurant across the harbor.

 

Well done to Julius Germanicus for the excellent photography in the original post. I would love to go there myself someday; the Croatian Adriatic coast just screams out for leisurely exploration by boat. In 1995 during my sea-going days, our vessel was berthed at Trieste but having only limited time for liberty I only made it to Koper and Rijeka on an impromptu bus ride .

There does not seem to be much written, at least in English, on this site so for those interested I'd recommend the small 131 page book "Diocletian's Palace, Split: Residence of a Retired Roman Emperor" by J.J. Wilkes and published in 1993. Wilkes had the somewhat lengthy title of Professor of the Archaeology of the Roman Provinces, Institute of Archaeology, University of London. His book is a useful overview of the history and archaeological work at the palace with photos, maps, plans, reconstructions, and a section of notes (pages 99-125) that refer extensively to previous publications.


Of course, to keep things coin-related here is my sole example of Diocletian which I think is very similar to the piece that Svessien posted above in his first photo.



AR Argenteus (19 mm, 4.28 grams, 1h), Struck A.D. 294, Rome mint

Obverse: DIOCLETI-ANVS AVG, laureate head right
Reverse: VIRTVS MILITVM, four tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod in front of military camp with six turrets
References: RIC VI 27a
Auction: CNG 38 (June 6-7, 1996), Lot 1138

 

Thank you all for sharing your stories and showing your coins of the founder of the Tetrarchy!

Here is my one and only coin of Diocletian:


I never presented it here because I did not find it spectacular enough to do a writeup or even find references for it (maybe one of the experts here can help?).

Here are two books I brought home from Split:

Sadly the museum´s rooms including the coin cabinet are closed due to renovations now. All you can visit is the courtyard which does feature many interesting artifacts though, like this late 2nd century mosaic of a sea god fron the house of the province governor:



And here is a relief depicting the personification of the City of Salona (first half of 4th century):



And here is the (modern interpretation of a) bust of the man himself, shown at his palace:

 

Diocletian AE Follis (26mm, 9.76 g)
Alexandria mint, 1st official
Struck c. 302-303

 

Diocletian Ar argenteus Nicomedia 295-296 AD Obv Head right laureate. Rv. Campgate with four turrets. RIC 25a 3.29 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen