Domus Eirene

The House of Eirene (Latin: Domus Eirene; Bulgarian: Резиденция Ейрене) is an ancient Roman peristyle house (a domus) with lavish mosaic floors in Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv), built in the middle of the 3rd century AD in the provincial capital of Thracia. It was probably built following the successful Siege of Philippopolis by the Goths in 250, during the Crisis of the Third Century in the Roman Empire at the beginning of Late Antiquity. The excavated area of the residential complex is 668 square meters, of which 160 square meters are colorful mosaics. The remains of the residence are located in the archeological underpass of Tsar Boris III Boulevard and is part of the exhibitions in the TrakArt cultural complex.

Eirene Residence
Eirene Residence
Shown within Plovdiv City Center
LocationPlovdiv, Bulgaria
Coordinates42.145140°N 24.751662°E / 42.145140; 24.751662
TypeResidence
History
Materialbricks, stone, marble
FoundedThe middle of the 3rd century AD
AbandonedThe end of the 6th century AD
PeriodsRoman Empire
Site notes
Excavation dates1983-84
ConditionRestored
OwnershipTrakArt
Public accessYes
Websitetrakart.org

The Residence and the mosaics
The portrait of the goddess Eirene and the inscription EIRHNH
Part of a series on the ancient city of
Philippopolis
Buildings and structures
Related topics
 • History • Timeline

The peristyle house Eirene was probably built in the middle of the 3rd century AD after the destruction brought to Philippopolis by the invasion of the Goths in 251 AD.[1] The building occupies a whole insula (a city block surrounded by four streets) and was built over the ruins of several older houses which were destroyed during the Goth invasion. The rooms of the owners were built in the Eastern part of the residence. They surrounded the peristyle (an open courtyard within the house surrounded by columns) while the service rooms were located in the Southern part of the complex.[2] A separate part of the building which had a direct access to the street nearby accommodated the servants.

The residence was severely damaged after the invasion of Attila's Huns in 441–442, but later it was repaired and expanded. Between the 4th and the 5th century, the floors were decorated with colorful and lavish mosaics of geometrical figures, endless knot symbols, flowers and welcoming inscriptions to visitors.[1] The most beautiful mosaic was placed in the center of the main residential room – a masterfully crafted portrait of the Greek goddess Eirene labeled with the inscription in Greek: ΕΙΡΗΝΗ, translit. Eirene, lit. "Peace". The craftsmen of Philippopolis who laid the mosaic image used the technique opus vermiculatum.[2] In later construction period, an apse was built next to the main entrance space of the representative area.

The residence was abandoned at the end of the 6th century, similar to other important buildings in the area, such as the episcopal basilica of Philippopolis.

Excavation and restoration

Eirene residence and the ancient street next to it were discovered in 1983–1984 during the construction of the underpass of Tsar Boris III Boulevard in Plovdiv. Shortly afterward, the building was listed as a cultural value of national significance. The remains of the house and the mosaic floors were restored and opened to public in 2003 as a part of TrakArt cultural complex.

References
  1. www.romanplovdiv.org
  2. www.antichen-stadion-plovdiv.eu
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