Archaeological excavations at the Roman fort of Apsaros, Georgia, reveal rare and fascinating elements of the Roman military presence at the edge of the Empire. Since 2014, a Polish-Georgian team, including Prof. Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski from the University of Warsaw and Dr Lasha Aslanishvili from the Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Adjara, has been exploring this strategic site located near the Black Sea.
In 2024, researchers discovered a gold votive plaque, material proof of the practice of a cult dedicated to Dolichenian Jupiter, a god prized by legionnaires. This find highlights not only the religious importance of the fort for Roman soldiers, but also its unique economic activities for a garrison, such as the production of amphorae and wine, thus enriching the understanding of the practices and networks which animated this region in Roman times.
A strategic fortress on the edge of the Roman Empire
Apsaros Fortress, today known as Gonio, is located on the western tip of Georgia. Not far from the current border with Turkey and the shores of the Black Sea. Built almost 2,000 years ago by the Roman Empire, it occupied a strategic position on the borders of the Roman province of Cappadocia. It served as an outpost to monitor this key region linking the Roman territories of Asia Minor to neighboring kingdoms. Close to Colchis, a mythical land linked to the legend of the Golden Fleece, the fort of Apsaros was located on a crucial sea and land route for trade and military transport to the East. This position made Apsaros an essential site for the defense of the eastern borders of the Empire.
The fortress of Apsaros is mentioned by the Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea. He associates it with the legend of Absyrtos, adding a mythological dimension to the site. In legend, Absyrtos is the son of King Aietes of Colchis and the brother of Medea. During Medea's escape with Jason, who had stolen the Golden Fleece, she kills Absyrtos to slow down Aietes, their father, and allow their escape. The fort of Apsaros would bear his name.
Since 2014, a Polish-Georgian archaeological team has been carrying out exhaustive excavations to explore this site with well-preserved remains. The fort of Apsaros, integrated into the defensive system of Rome against incursions from the East, constitutes an essential witness to the Roman occupation and its geopolitical issues in the region.
The votive plaque: a rare and precious tribute to Dolichenian Jupiter
The gold votive plaque discovered at Apsaros constitutes an exceptional object for its quality and meaning. This fine plaque, of refined workmanship, is engraved with a Greek inscription dedicated to Dolichenian Jupiter. This is a deity adopted by the Roman army in the East. The reliefs that adorn the plaque represent the attributes of the god, reinforcing its sacred character for Roman soldiers.
Unlike common votive objects, often made of bronze or stone, the use of gold here suggests the special importance of this offering. It was perhaps placed during a solemn ceremony to invoke divine protection in uncertain circumstances. Finding such an intact object remains rare, especially in a military context where gold was not commonly used.
Gold plate. © Natalia Lockley via the Polish Center of Mediterranean Archeology at the University of Warsaw
This plaque is not just a simple religious artifact. It testifies to the popularity of Jupiter Dolichenian among soldiers stationed in regions far from Rome. This god, originally from Dolichè – a small religious center located in present-day Türkiye – was integrated into local and Roman beliefs. Associated with war and protection, Dolichenian Jupiter was distinguished from Capitoline Jupiter by its exotic symbols, such as the bull and the eagle.
The latter represented earthly power and spiritual elevation respectively. The discovery of this plaque therefore highlights the complexity of beliefs in Roman garrisons. But also the appropriation of foreign cults within the Empire. They responded to the spiritual needs of legionnaires far from their homeland.
A surprising economy in the heart of a fort
Furthermore, excavations have revealed evidence of surprisingly diverse economic activity within this Apsaros garrison. And this goes well beyond usual military functions. The remains of several pottery kilns, some of which still contained unfinished amphorae, reveal large-scale production. This is an activity rarely associated with Roman military forts.
These amphorae, intended for transporting wine, were probably manufactured for regional trade. They could even supply other military posts. The presence of a wine press near the ovens suggests that this production could be carried out directly on site. This transformed the fort into a temporary winemaking and pottery center. This discovery indicates not only a partial economic self-sufficiency of the garrison, but also an integration of this site into the commercial networks of the Pont-Euxin region.
An ancient Roman pottery kiln with jars still inside. © Marcin Matera via the Polish Center of Mediterranean Archeology at the University of Warsaw
The organization of this activity seems to follow a logic of alternation with the military presence. Researchers believe that local artisans, mobilized to work at the fort in the absence of the garrison, had to interrupt their production as soon as the Roman troops returned. They then sometimes left unfinished amphorae in the ovens. This phenomenon could be explained by security or space requirements. Civilian production was put on hold with each military movement. This alternation between military occupation and artisanal production reveals economic flexibility within a garrison. According to researchers, it was supposed to meet the army's supply needs while supporting a local economy.
Arrian's house and the fort's mosaics: traces of a cultural past
The “House of Arrian” is identified as the residence of the commander of the Roman garrison at Apsaros. Finally, it bears witness to the cultural richness and status of the officers of the time. This building is well preserved for a military archaeological site. He produced sumptuous mosaics, proof that the Roman military elite enjoyed comforts often associated with the aristocratic residences of the Empire.
The mosaics, made with great finesse, represent geometric and figurative motifs typical of the aesthetics of the Roman world. The presence of such works of art in a remote fortress highlights the importance given to the environment by senior military officials. They probably imported craftsmen and materials, despite the distance from the centers of artistic production of the Empire.
Attempt to reconstruct a room in the garrison commander's house in Asparos. © Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski and Mateusz Osiadacz
A team from the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts under the direction of Dr. Julia Burdajewicz undertook the restoration of these mosaics. This made it possible to preserve the most damaged sections and ensure their exhibition in a local museum. For their part, the mosaics still in place, partially exposed, require additional research to be fully studied and consolidated.
Source: University of Warsaw
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