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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Julius Germanicus, post: 7782838, member: 80783&quot;]Diocletian´s palace (built between 295 and 305 A.D.) is among the largest and best preserved monuments of the roman world.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>Original state according to 1908 study by austrian archeologist G.Niemann:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1335387[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>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. </p><p>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:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1335139[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The Northern Gate (Porta septemtrionalis, called &quot;Porta Aurea&quot; 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:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1335140[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The inner courtyard (propugnaculum) of the gate:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1335153[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The main north-south-street (&quot;cardo&quot;) leads to a monumental court, the Peristyle, which formed the northern access to the imperial apartments in front of the Vestibule:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1335133[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>It also gave access to to three temples on the West and Diocletian&#039;s mausoleum on the East:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1335145[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>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:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1335144[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The Vestibule (Rotunda) was is a circular hall, once topped with a dome, 17 meters in height and 12 meters in diameter:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1335403[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>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:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1335402[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Here is a view of the Eastern Gate (Porta Orientalis, later &quot;Porta Argentea&quot;):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1335406[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Enjoy and share your travel stories and coins of Diocletian![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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