Roman Mogontiacum

The Roman stronghold or castrum Mogontiacum, the precursor to Mainz, was founded by the Roman general Drusus perhaps as early as 13/12 BC. As related by Suetonius the existence of Mogontiacum is well established by four years later (the account of the death and funeral of Nero Claudius Drusus), though several other theories suggest the site may have been established earlier. Although the city is situated opposite the mouth of the Main river, the name of Mainz is not from Main, the similarity being perhaps due to diachronic analogy. Main is from Latin Menus, the name the Romans used for the river. Linguistic analysis of the many forms that the name “Mainz” has taken on make it clear that it is a simplification of Mogontiacum. The name appears to be Celtic and ultimately it is. However, it had also become Roman and was selected by them with a special significance. The Roman soldiers defending Gallia had adopted the Gallic god Mogons (Mogounus, Moguns, Mogonino), for the meaning of which etymology offers two basic options: “the great one”, similar to Latin magnus, which was used in aggrandizing names such as Alexander magnus, “Alexander the Great” and Pompeius magnus, “Pompey the great”, or the god of “might” personified as it appears in young servitors of any type whether of noble or ignoble birth.

Mogontiacum was an important military town throughout Roman times, probably due to its strategic position at the confluence of the Main and the Rhine. The town of Mogontiacum grew up between the fort and the river. The castrum was the base of Legio XIIII Gemina and XVI Gallica (AD 9–43), XXII Primigenia, IIII Macedonica (43–70), I Adiutrix (70–88), XXI Rapax (70–89), and XIIII Gemina (70–92), among others. Mainz was also a base of a Roman river fleet, the Classis Germanica. Remains of Roman troop ships (navis lusoria) and a patrol boat from the late 4th century were discovered in 1982/86 and may now be viewed in the Museum für Antike Schifffahrt. A temple dedicated to Isis Panthea and Magna Mater was discovered in 2000 and is open to the public. The city was the provincial capital of Germania Superior, and had an important funeral monument dedicated to Drusus, to which people made pilgrimages for an annual festival from as far away as Lyon. Among the famous buildings were the largest theatre north of the Alps and a bridge across the Rhine.

Alemanni forces under Rando sacked the city in 368. From the last day of 405 or 406, the Siling and Asding Vandals, the Suebi, the Alans, and other Germanic tribes crossed the Rhine, possibly at Mainz. Christian chronicles relate that the bishop, Aureus, was put to death by the Alemannian Crocus. The way was open to the sack of Trier and the invasion of Gaul.

Roman theatre
Throughout the changes of time, the Roman castrum never seems to have been permanently abandoned as a military installation, which is a testimony to Roman military judgement. Different structures were built there at different times. The current citadel originated in 1660, but it replaced previous forts. It was used in World War II.
One of the sights at the citadel is still the cenotaph raised by legionaries to commemorate their Drusus.
Discovered in the early 1900’s when they were building the Mainz South Rail Station, these ruins give a glimpse of Roman life in Mainz. According to historians, this theater could hold 10,000 people.
It is located next to the Mainz South (Roman Theater) Rail Station and is below the Citadel.

Mainz Isis Heiligtum
In 1999, two blocks of shops were pulled down in the centre of the city of Mainz on a site that in Roman times was not far from the major road that led from the camp of leg. XIV Gemina to the bridge over the Rhine. This chapter provides basic information about the sanctuary of Isis and Mater Magna. It comprises several cult-rooms and – as usual in mystery-cults – rooms for meetings and banquets, also a well and a latrine. The sanctuary is of very considerable importance for the social and religious history of Germania Superior, and indeed the north-western provinces of the Roman Empire. The joint sanctuary of Isis and Mater Magna at Mainz and the lead tablets found there are important in this context for three reasons.

Mainz Landesmuseum Pre-Historic and Roman Departments. Antiquities from the Mainz area, including a Venus-like statue from 23,000 BC; stone axes from the Late Stone Age; Roman stone memorials; busts of bronze and marble; a 1st-century Roman Jupiter Column; a 3rd-century Roman arch.