DOI article:
Kowalski, Sławomir P.: The praetorium of the camp of Diocletian on Palmyra
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26419#0067
Studia Palmyreńskie IX, 1994
39
THE PRAETORIUM OF THE CAMP OF
DIOCLETIAN IN PALMYRA
by
SŁAWOMIR P. KOWALSKI 1
I. INTRODUCTION
1. THE EXCAVATION
In 1974 while continuing archaeological investigations in the so called Camp of Diocletian in Palmyra
the Polish mission started excavating the area north-west of the so called tetrapylon (Michalowski 1962:
10-41). The excavators directed by M. Gawlikowski wished to unearth the remains of the Allat Temple,
the location of which had been known from inscriptions for almost a century (Gawlikowski 1983: 61).
The structures revealed during the excavations were drawn by the architect R. Sobolewski (Pl. XXIX).
Among these there were remains of a peristyle house, later named Praetorium. The building was exposed
almost completely, except for the northernmost room of the western wing.
The campaign of the next year was entirely devoted to digging out the cella of Allat.
The excavation of the Praetorium was continued in 1976. Unearthing of the house was completed then
and a series of soundings was carried out by P. Bieliński, H. Meyza and S. Iwaniszewski in order to
establish the relationship of the Praetorium to the temenos of Allat. The structures disclosed by the
soundings were drawn by the architect J. Rosiński(Pl. XXX). 2
In 1977 the remaining walls of the Praetorium, with the exception of the northern part, were
dismantled so as to expose in full the temenos of Allat.
1 Hereby, 1 would like to thank the Committee for Scientific Research (KBN) for financing provided for the preparation
of this paper (grant no. 1 P108 003 07).
2 All the other drawings presented in the paper were executed by the author (Pl. XXVI is based on the plan drawn by
M. Barański) and redrawn in ink by Mr. Marek Puszkarski. The photographs of 1974 and 1993 (except for Plates XIX 2, XX 1
which are the pictures of the author) were taken by Mr. Waldemar Jerke, while those of 1975 and 1976 by Mr. Th. Versteegh.
39
THE PRAETORIUM OF THE CAMP OF
DIOCLETIAN IN PALMYRA
by
SŁAWOMIR P. KOWALSKI 1
I. INTRODUCTION
1. THE EXCAVATION
In 1974 while continuing archaeological investigations in the so called Camp of Diocletian in Palmyra
the Polish mission started excavating the area north-west of the so called tetrapylon (Michalowski 1962:
10-41). The excavators directed by M. Gawlikowski wished to unearth the remains of the Allat Temple,
the location of which had been known from inscriptions for almost a century (Gawlikowski 1983: 61).
The structures revealed during the excavations were drawn by the architect R. Sobolewski (Pl. XXIX).
Among these there were remains of a peristyle house, later named Praetorium. The building was exposed
almost completely, except for the northernmost room of the western wing.
The campaign of the next year was entirely devoted to digging out the cella of Allat.
The excavation of the Praetorium was continued in 1976. Unearthing of the house was completed then
and a series of soundings was carried out by P. Bieliński, H. Meyza and S. Iwaniszewski in order to
establish the relationship of the Praetorium to the temenos of Allat. The structures disclosed by the
soundings were drawn by the architect J. Rosiński(Pl. XXX). 2
In 1977 the remaining walls of the Praetorium, with the exception of the northern part, were
dismantled so as to expose in full the temenos of Allat.
1 Hereby, 1 would like to thank the Committee for Scientific Research (KBN) for financing provided for the preparation
of this paper (grant no. 1 P108 003 07).
2 All the other drawings presented in the paper were executed by the author (Pl. XXVI is based on the plan drawn by
M. Barański) and redrawn in ink by Mr. Marek Puszkarski. The photographs of 1974 and 1993 (except for Plates XIX 2, XX 1
which are the pictures of the author) were taken by Mr. Waldemar Jerke, while those of 1975 and 1976 by Mr. Th. Versteegh.