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HomeMunicipal Museums » Archaeology Museum » The Romans
Inscriptions: THE ROMAN TOWN
Title: Pedestal of Q. Manlius Celsinus. In the Valencian region there were only ten Roman towns; one of which was Allon, located at Villajoyosa. It was categorized as a municipium the status of which was granted by the emperor Vespasian around the year 74 A.D. and its municipal area (territorium) was the Marina Baja area.
The inscriptions which are conserved in the museum describe a Mayor (duumvir), a priest of the Imperial cult (flamen) and the reconstruction of the municipal market (macellum) in the 2nd century A.D. The latter inscription is unique in the Iberian Peninsula.
THE VILLAS
Title: Coin of Trajan. In the countryside the Roman Villas stand out. These were rich noble residences, but at the same time they were centres of agriculture, stock raising and industry. The magnificent Xauxelles villa stands out especially with its luxuriously decorated private baths. In the display case decorative pieces; (a marble herm bust of Bacchus, a bronze appliqué of a Silenus, painted wall plaster...), lead weights (half "libra" and 1 "libra"), a mosaic from the baths of Xauxelles and a simple display of the evolution of Roman coins, are exhibited.
Inscription: THE FIRST CHRISTIAN
Title: Inscription from Els Banyets. The exact age at death was only written on children's funerary inscriptions especially if they were Christian. This inscription from the first half of the 3rd century AD comes from the "Els Banyets" farm.
ROMAN CEMETERIES
Title: Roman Burials. The Romans cremated their dead. In the display case you can see the urns which contained the ashes and which were sometimes accompanied by other objects (grave goods). During the 2nd century A.D. due to the influence of new religions such as Christianity, the practice of cremation was replaced by inhumation burials (the burial of the body), as is the case of an old woman who was buried in the cemetery of Poble Nou and whose remains are exhibited in the display case.
Hands-on Model: THE TOWER OF SAINT JOSEPH
Title: Model of the St Joseph Tower. The Tower of Saint Joseph is the best preserved Roman monumental tomb in the Valencian Region. It is a closed tower made of limestone constructed around the mid 2nd century A.D. during the period of the emperor Hadrian. It was a tomb of a member of the local aristocracy whose name is unknown. One corner of the model has been opened to allow the visitor to see how the tower was constructed.
Sensory Table: YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SMELL THE FAVOURITE PERFUMES OF ROMAN MEN AND WOMEN
On this table you can touch three reproduction Iberian and Roman perfume bottles each one containing one of the most popular aromas of that time: iris, cyprus and nard, created by the museum using natural essences. You can also handle pieces of Roman and modern day concrete to compare them and to get an idea as to what extent the technological achievements we enjoy today were created by ancient cultures.
DAILY LIFE OF THE ROMANS
Title: Glass Unguentarium Bottles. This display case contains a number of important archaeological artefacts that have been mostly found in Roman burials: oil lamps, a makeup palette, hair pins, gaming counters, bronze medical instruments, glass cups, magnificent table wares and cooking wares. One outstanding artefact is a bronze child’s rattle with the figure of Hypnus, the god of dreams.
