Tarnaiae
Origin of the name Tarnaiae
The ancient name of Massongex, Tarnaiae appears in the Antonine Itinerary, on the Peutinger Table and in the Ravenna Cosmography. It is linked to Taranis, the Celtic sky god whom the Romans equated with Jupiter.[6][1]
Founding of Tarnaiae
Tarnaiae grew up on the bank of the Rhône, on the Great St Bernard road, at the first point downstream from Martigny where the river could be crossed, first by a ford and then by a bridge. In Gaulish times it was the chief town of the Nantuates, a village built mostly of wood. It probably housed a sanctuary of Taranis where delegates of the four peoples of Valais met. After the Roman conquest the settlement grew at the junction of three roads, towards Italy, towards Avenches along the right bank and towards Savoy along the left bank. Its remains now lie beneath the village of Massongex.[1][3]
History of Tarnaiae
around 50 BC. A Gaulish ditch, perhaps used for worship, is dug and then reworked several times. Timber buildings with hearths go with it.[1]
57 BC. Defeated at Octodurus (Martigny) by the Veragri and Seduni, the army sent by Caesar falls back among the Nantuates, who seem to have cooperated with it, then leaves Valais.[3]
16-15 BC. Rome conquers Valais. The federal sanctuary of the Vallis Poenina was reportedly located at Tarnaiae at that time.[1][3]
AD 10-15. The public baths are built. They rank among the oldest Roman monuments in Switzerland.[5]
AD 30s. The mosaic of the two wrestlers adorns the tepidarium of the baths.[3]
around AD 47. Martigny becomes the capital of a unified Valais and Tarnaiae loses its rank as chief town of the Nantuates. The village nonetheless keeps prospering, with warehouses, workshops and porticoed streets.[1][3]
110-111. Works on the banks of the Rhône, dated by dendrochronology, may go with the building or rebuilding of a bridge.[1]
3rd century. From the second half of the century most buildings are abandoned. Part of the settlement survives and the Rhône crossing remains in use in Late Antiquity.[1][3]
end of Antiquity. The ruins serve as a quarry for Agaune (Saint-Maurice), which is growing.[3]
early Middle Ages. Graves are dug in the ruins of the vicus.[2]
1873. Remains, perhaps of a bridgehead, are observed.[6]
1976. Wooden posts fitted with iron shoes and large limestone blocks, perhaps from a bridge pier, turn up in the Rhône. Dendrochronology could not date them.[6]
1980s. Excavations begin to uncover small parts of the houses and workshops of the vicus. Their results are published in 1991 under the title « Aux origines de Massongex VS ».[6][1]
Historic sites in Tarnaiae
Place de l'Église. The public baths lay beneath the present square. Markings on the ground show the plan of the caldarium, the frigidarium and the apodyterium with the palaestra.[3][7]
Caveau romain. A glass window at the corner of the building known as the « caveau romain » reveals the mosaic of the baths.[3]
Remains in Tarnaiae
Mosaic of the wrestlers. Measuring about 148 by 147 cm, it is one of the few Roman remains to have come down through the ages in relatively good condition. Two wrestlers fight on it, separated by the palm of victory.[3]
Altar of Jupiter and basin. Beneath the present Café Central, two signs of a temple of Jupiter, successor to that of Taranis, were found. The first is an altar dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus, kept in the vestibule of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice. The second is a basin over 2.5 m across, probably used for worship. The sanctuary itself has not been located.[3]
Milestone. A milestone marking twelve thousand paces from Martigny, the distance between Tarnaiae and Forum Claudii Vallensium, was found in the walls of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice, where it served as a door lintel in the bell tower.[3]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Tarnaiae » (François Wiblé, version du 20.08.2012)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Massongex » (Albano Hugon, version du 27.08.2008, version allemande)
- Commune de Massongex, « Histoire »
- Inventaire suisse des biens culturels d'importance nationale (PBC), « Tarnaiae, vicus celtique - galloromain », objet n° 9701
- Société d'histoire de l'art en Suisse, Guide artistique de la Suisse, notice « Massongex » (via l'inventaire PBC)
- Ostia-antica.org, « Massongex (Tarnaiae) »
- Vici.org, « Thermen Massongex (Tarnaiae) »
Other villages near Tarnaiae
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