HERACLEA

Heraclea, Antient City near Bitola

Near the city of Bitola, at the foot of Baba Mountain, an ancient city that dates from the middle of the 4th Century before Christ is located. It testifies of its persistence over time with its beauty and attractiveness. It is called Heraclea Lyncestis.

The city, founded by Philip II of Macedonia, carries marks of a developed military and strategic center in the north-west border of Macedonian area, at the time, called Lyncesida (today the Bitola valley).

Heraclea and its numerous habitat layers testify of a continuous historical and culture development throughout centuries. The uncovered monuments are a proof of the fact that the city was built, upgraded, destroyed, rebuilt and reconstructed as early as its beginnings in the late bronze age, and later in Hellenistic time, the Roman time all the way to the early Byzantine age. It had a status of a city with a high level of civilization. Heraclea could not resist the influence of various origins, which came from external factors as a consequence of its favourable location. This had an impact on the urban structure of the city, as well as the organization of economic and cultural life in it. Geographically located in a fertile field to the north and protected by the Baba Mountain and the Siva Voda River to the south, Heraclea had persisted long and developed into a significant crossroads on the Via Egnatia Road, which connected Drac and Bosphorus, via Thessalonica to the south and Skupi, across Stibera and Stobi to the north. Via Egnatia was used as a military road.

With the strengthening of the Roman rule on these grounds in the period of the 2nd Century BC, when Macedonia became a Roman province, Heraclea turned into a strong economic and political center with a permanent Roman regent and a Roman army of its own. The city lived through the highest level of civilisation development during the Roman rule and the Roman assimilation policy in Macedonia. It was in the first centuries of the new era that it received a status of a colony. As one written inscription on a marble plate from the 3rd Century AD testifies, the city was known by the name of SEPTINIA AURELIA HERACLEA. The above-mentioned facts affected the overall look of the city. Roman architecture was mostly present, although traditional influence and the changes throughout history still had their own mark on the city.

During the research on the Heraclea site, remains of the former city were found and a reconstruction of its original form was made.

On the northern end of the Forum, there is the COURT HOUSE PORTICO, a rectangular based construction with two statues on pedestals and a pedestal, which does not hold a statue. The northern wall silently speaks the great history of the city. The statue of Tit Flavius Orest delights with a peaceful beauty in its ideal proportions. His name is written on the statue with Greek letters. The young female body and the ordinary truth and justice companionship, the balance and the bow, point to the magnitude of Nemsa, the Goddess of Justice and Destiny. The Greek written sign on the statue says that this was a gift from the citizen of Heraclea, Julia Tertila. The pedestal without a statue on it and with a Greek written sign is dedicated to the same goddess. A framed verse from Hesiods' song "Deeds and days" is inscribed on it: "Hunger and misfortune never strike upon those leaders who judge with justice and they enjoy the fruit of their great effort in abundance." a fragment that speaks of the high level of education and sense for culture that the people of Heraclea possessed in the first half of the 2nd Century AD, a period of extraordinary construction activity, referred to as Emperor Trajan's era.

The construction of the Therma marks the beginning of higher health awareness among the locals. In that respect, the Therma can, by all means, be considered the beginning of the later construction of the aqueduct and the expansion of the water network in the 6th century. The Therma had three bathing halls and was used even in the 5th century with a little modification.

The imposing Theatre in Heraclea is a magnificent construction where the genius of Vitruvius, an experienced constructor from that time, demonstrates his sense of perfection. The hypothetical data noted by archaeologists and art historians say that its construction started in the time of Emperor Hadrian, and the final works were done in the time of Antonin Pie. Again, by already tested recepies from the Roman architectural cuisine, marble, stone and baked brick were used in order to give this building an extraordinary look with a remarkable aesthetic quality. When the stage was uncovered, the double function of the theatre was confirmed: it was used for stage performances as well as shows with animals that were kept in three cages. A high wall of Orthostat was raised around the Orchestra with a metal fence above, in order to insure spectators' safety. The Tribunal has a Diasoma with twelve rows of seats, and above the high row, there is a Nemesion. The scene consists of five rectangular chambers, and a beautifully decorated north facade. The Theatre had a capacity of about three thousand visitors of all social layers.

At the time the Theatre played a main role in creating the cult towards the Christian Sufferer thrown in the arena before the hungry beasts. The Christians, supported by their deep faith in God and the salvation of the soul, accepted the terrible and fierce death with prayers. The event made the spectators cheer with thrill. The end of the third century to the middle of the fourth century was a period of barbaric attacks, a time of struggle between the believers in the Christian faith and their opponents, the pagans. The peace among beliefs was reached when the final successful truce was signed.

The restless periods did not terminate in the centuries that followed. The city was torn down and reborn like the mythological bird Phoenix. Considering the elements of the material type, we can surely say that Christianity certainly pulsated freely through the Damari of the city, where church life was successfully organized. The best witness of this is the architectural remains from buildings, as well as the few Bishop's written edifices from the 4th Century AD. Another argument supporting this is the inscription on the Fountain located near the Theatre building with the name of Bishop John, whose name is carved in the monolithic column in the Small Basilica.

Many sacred objects, which delight with their exquisiteness, have been found on the ground of Heraclea, the floor mosaics being particularly impressive due to the fact that they were made in opus sectile and opus tessalatum. They are the masterpieces of the early Christian art from the 5th and the 6th century.

They are the Small Basilica (A), The Civil Basilica (B), The Great Basilica (C) and The Cemetery Basilica (D)- placed at about 250 meters from the central city area of Heraclea. Early Christian and Medieval Slavic tombs were also found nearby.

As a contrast to these beautiful buildings, profane buildings made of mud and stones were raised on the ruins of the Ancient Theatre. Their importance is in their location. It speaks of the rational use of materials in the vicinity, the great construction experience acquired with centuries.

The Bishop's Residence of trapezium shape is an interesting building. It was constructed upon design based on ancient tradition. The connection between the Bishop's Basilica and the other basilicas in the middle part of this ancient city was made by a hall through its eastern entrance. The rooms of the Bishop's Residence were located around the central yard that had a well in its middle. The floors in all of the rooms of the Bishopric were decorated with mosaics of tiny stones on the principle of tessalatum. Different geometric drawings are presented on them, rosettes, meandras, braids, fish bones and twisted crosses. Flora and fauna motives are recurring ornaments in that decoration.

The Bishop's Residence was used from the 4th to the 6th Century AD. However, the pages of the history of Heraclea include not only events that point to its beauty, fame and the peaceful life in it, but unfortunately also the fact that the people of Heraclea were not lucky enough to enjoy the beauty of life for long periods. There were frequent and hard attacks from all around. Towards the end of the 6th Century and the beginning of the 7th Century AD, after the long lasting conflicts with the Avaro - Slavic tribes, the night of barbarism came upon Heraclea. The unfortunate destiny of the city ended tragically with the inglorious migration of its citizens to different directions. This marked the end of the urban life in the city.

Once a magnificent city, now just a ruin, Heraclea, as many other ancient settlements in Macedonia, lived to rise again and speak of a life and destiny experiences by a great number of our ancestors. Despite the condition it is at present time, Heraclea is still able to take one's breath away with millions of thoughts and sights.

During the time of the Roman Empire, the city was renovated and expanded on the neighbouring hills. Residential buildings were raised with a sewage system connecting them. One of the largest constructions with an opus sectile mosaic on its floor is outstanding. On the other side of the construction a temple was built, dedicated to Heraclea, i.e. Emperor Comod. There were other, solid constructions, of both private and public use in the vicinity. The archaeological research shows that the city had an enormous developmental break through in that period. The coins, the pottery vessels, the marble statues and carvings, as well as the tomb plates with portraits, speak of a city that did not differ from other larger Macedonian towns of that time.

Towards the middle of the third century, probably around 268, in the time of the Gothic attacks on these grounds, the city suffered again. But, soon it was renovated again. Fortified buildings with defence walls were built and marked as the Castrum. The walls, monuments and blocks were decorated with vivid ornaments.

The primary dugouts and the latest archaeological discoveries point to the fact that the life in this ancient Isar city continued until the 5th - 6th century.