Carroll, M. (2026). "House of the Ram (La Maison au Bélier)." Gardens of the Roman Empire, accessed October 2, 2026. https://roman-gardens.github.io/id/90aacd419f/

House of the Ram (La Maison au Bélier)

Published: 2026-10-01
Last modified: 2026-10-02

Dates

unspecified

Excavation Dates

1992-1993

Place Description

Durocortorum was mentioned by Caesar as the center of the Remi, a Celtic tribe that sided with the Romans against the Belgians. It then became a federated city, nominally independent. Under Augustus, it became the capital of Gallia Belgica. Many vestiges indicate that it was densely settled and unusually extensive. A network of water supply and sewers has been found; an aqueduct brought water from 40 kilometers. The cardo and decumanus are still identifiable today by vestiges of four gates with arches, the northern one still standing; they cardo and decumanus intersect at the present Place Royale. Today, the city is known for its magnificent Gothic cathedral and its fine champagnes.

Garden Description

Excavated in 1992-93 by Agnès Balmelle, this vast house probably covered about 2000 square meters. The date of construction is rather uncertain; it could be as early as the end of the first century or as late as the second half of the second (Fig. 1) The excavations have revealed a portico (A) (20 x 3 m) opening onto an open space which may have been a garden. It was bordered on the southwest by drain which no doubt collected rainwater from the roof and led it away to the northwest. A well (E) was in the north gallery or corridor (B).

Bibliography

  • A. Balmelle, Reims, Le site de la villa des Capucins (site n°51 454 129) : D.F.S. de sauvegarde urgent, S.R.A. Champagne-Ardenne, 1995. (worldcat)
  • A. Balmelle, R. Neiss, Les maisons de l'élite à Durocortorum, in Archéologie urbaine à Reims, Bulletin de la société archéologique champenoise, t. 96, 2003, 4, p. 82. (worldcat)

Keywords

Places