Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • The Seuso treasure
    • The treasure
    • The artefacts
    • The Kőszárhegy silver stand
    • Data and facts about the treasure
    • Recent history of the treasure trove
    • Similar treasure finds
    • Undiscovered objects
  • The Research Project
    • The research project
    • The Seuso Working Committee
    • Partners
  • Exhibitions
    • Permanent exhibiton
    • Travelling exhibition
    • Exhibitions in the House of Parliament
  • Media
    • News, events
    • Press releases
    • Articles in the press
    • Seuso Archives
  • hu
  • en
  1. Seuso Research Project
  2. Late Roman luxury villa, Nagyharsány
City goddess personifying a metropolis of the Roman Empire from the mosaics of the banquet hall of the Nagyharsány villa (Photo: © Hungarian National Museum)
City goddess personifying a metropolis of the Roman Empire from the mosaics of the banquet hall of the Nagyharsány villa (Photo: © Hungarian National Museum)
Site of the villa at the barren southern side of Szársomlyó hill (Photo: © Hungarian National Museum)
Site of the villa at the barren southern side of Szársomlyó hill (Photo: © Hungarian National Museum)
Pannonia
5th century A.D.

Late Roman luxury villa, Nagyharsány

Since 2016 the Hungarian National Museum has again been researching the late Roman luxury villa in Nagyharsány. Considering the banquet hall of the central building decorated with glass mosaics of high artistic quality, as well as the person of the villa’s owner, it is the only known archaeological site in Hungary where the opulent way of life of landowners belonging to the imperial elite can be conceptualized. The villa confirms that an educated and wealthy imperial elite was present in the late imperial Pannonian provinces, a member of which could quite possibly own a banqueting set of comparable quality to the Seuso treasure. In the 3rd and 4th centuries a large estate centre replaced the earlier village-like settlement. It had a large-scale central complex of buildings. The Nagyharsány villa is special in that its rich owner is known. The last extensive construction of the central building dated to the end of the 4th and beginning of the 5th century and the commissioning of the mosaic floors can be connected to the owner. However, the last owners of the villa could enjoy its luxurious conditions only for a short time. A war conflict in the second-third decade of the 5th century made them leave their home forever.

  • Reign of Emperor Augustus

    Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace)
    Statue of Augustus from Prima Porta
  • “Corinthian bronze”jug and bowl with handle, Egyed

  • Roman wall paintings

  • The Conquest of Pannonia

  • Colosseum

  • Reign of Emperor Trajan

    Trajan’s Column
  • Reign of Emperor Hadrian

    Pantheon
  • Reign of Marcus Aurelius

    Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius
    Bronze portrait of Marcus Aurelius, Lugio
  • The Severan dynasty: the golden age of Pannonia

    Wall paintings from Brigetio
    Hercules mosaic, Aquincum
    Cult relief of Mithras, Sárkeszi
  • Ivory statue of Autumn (Autumnus), Savaria

  • The age of the soldier emperors

    Statue of Nemesis from the governor’s palace, Aquincum
  • Silver augur staff, Brigetio

  • Reign of Diocletian: the age of the First Tetrarchy

    Statue of the tetrarchs of Venice
    The Gold Coffin by Ferenc Móra
  • Reign of Emperor Constantine I (the Great)

    Mosaics of the Villa del Casale, Piazza Armerina
    The triumphal arch of Constantine
    The Colossus of Constantine I
    Colossal bronze statue of Constantine I
  • Foundation of Constantinople

  • Reign of Emperor Constantius II.

    Heidentor, Carnuntum
    The Kaiseraugst treasure
  • Helmet of March 15 Square, Budapest Castellum contra Teutanum

  • Imperial fibula with onyx, Szilágysomlyó

  • Reign of Emperor Julian

  • Reign of Emperor Valentinian I

  • Battle of Hadrianopolis

  • Barbarian incursions into Pannonia

    The Kőszárhegy quadripus
  • I. (The Great) Theodosius and his co-emperors

    Obelisk of Theodosius
    Gilded bronze bust of Valentinian II, Sopianae (?)
  • Fragment of glass vessel with gold foil decoration, Intercisa

  • Painted Early Christian burial chambers, Sopianae

  • Ivory diptychs

  • Sack of Rome

  • Giving up the territory of Pannonia

    Late Roman luxury villa, Nagyharsány
    The Beremend bronze plaque
  • Dethronement of Romulus Augustulus

  • Mosaics of Ravenna

Footer

  • Contact
  • Credits
  • Sponsors

All rights reserved © 2025