Augustodunum

Augustodunum is the ancient name of Autun.

History

It was during the reign of the Roman Emperor Auguste (27 before J. - C./14 after J. - C.) that was born Autun: its ancient name is Augustodunum which means fortress of Auguste . It is intended to replace Bibracte, capital of the Eduens in order to thank the latter for their ancestral alliance. Auguste had the will to create a large city as a Gaulle who would show the Roman power. Augustodunum was thus equipped with splendid monuments which make today still its fame. The creation of Autun attracted the surrounding populations and in particular the inhabitants of Bibracte, the Oppidum Eduen, which fell little by little into the lapse of memory. Taken by Julius Sacrovir in the year 21, it was the hearth of the revolt of this Gallic (which committed suicide with the surroundings). At the 3rd century, it was besieged for seven months, catch and was destroyed by the usurper Victorinus in 270; rebuilt in the next century by Constantin.

Monuments

a Pregnant honorary, long of approximately 6 km, comprising many turns. It with the form of a Rhombus and surrounds a surface of approximately 200 hectares. It was bored of four doors (of which three remain) at the ends of the two main streets which were cut to right angle ( Cardo maximus and Decumanus maximus ).
a Roman Theater which can contain to 20.000 people, largest in capacity of the Western part of the Roman Empire.

a Amphitheater today disappeared, located beside the theater.
a channel builds to convey wood of Morvan and to feed the arênes of Autun for the Naumachie S
the doors of Saint Andre and Arroux who constituted two of the four entries which made it possible to cross the walls of the city.
the temple known as “of Janus”, outside the ramparts.
astonishing stone of Couhard which is drawn up in the middle of old a Nécropole.
a short portion of Cardo Maximus, crossing the city according to a north-eastern, south-western axis.

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