Magyar Hírek, 1987 (40. évfolyam, 1-23. szám)

1987-07-25 / 15. szám

Hie feotß

IN HUNGARY

A roman villa at Szentendre

Fifty years of the Tri-M

Malaton with the cooj •eration of aieheologists of County Zala. They are working there at three sites.

Archeological topography

The compilation of an areheologieal topography is task of tire Institute of Archeology. They collect all the documentary evidente they can find: archival sources, secondary literature, archeological material of district museums. Archeologists in the counties also take part in the work.

The grave of an Avar prince found in the district of Kunpeszér, County Bács-Kiskun, from which dozens of golden objects were recovered, was a considerable archeological sensation a few years ago. In the course of follow-up works the grave of an Avar woman was found. The rich finds recovered from that (golden ear-rings with balls, silver bracelets and buckles, pearls) suggest noble standing. But the real surprise came with the next Avar grave that was found nearby. In that the skeleton of a — presumably young — female was found who was buried in a shrunken state above a buried warrior. She was probably a human victim laid to rest there with her master.

Rescue work

The Hungarian National Museum is concentrating primarily on rescuing items in the Danube Bend prior to the building of the Nagymaros dam. Excavations last year produced conclusive evidence that humans had settled at Visegrád already five thousand years ago. Until now the remains of a house have been explored. Weights of a loom were found amongst the ruins. The find was taken from there and after preparation it will be exhibited in the King Matthias Corvinus Museum at Visegrád. One of the most interesting finds there dates back to the time of the Árpád Dynasty. Two ovens dug into the ground have been excavated. The remains of a bone-carving workshop, dating back to the age of King Sigismund of Luxemburg were also unearthed. Various articles for personal use were made in this workshop, including knife handles, rosaries made of beads carved of bone, even dice. Luck preserved even a few of the tools, so, on the basis of contemporary pictorial representations the work process could be accurately reconstructed, including even the lathe used to shape the animal bones.

Bequests received from abroad prove the international reputation of the work of Hungarian archeologists. They took part in a number of excavations in Egypt and the Middle East. Kor the first time in the history of Hungarian archeology Hungarians also joined excavations in Italy. They are excavating a Roman villa there. Indeed, an agreement concerning Italian — Hungarian cooperation in Middle Eastern and Far Eastern excavations was signed recently.

KLÁRA ZIKA

In the course of preliminary examination of the area of the openair ethnographic museum of Szentendre, in the late sixties, archeologists discovered that a Roman building had stood there once upon a time. Doing the surveying work for the museum disclosed remains of ancient walls. Dr Judit Topái, an archeologist, was subsequently commissionad to establish the original dimensions of the building. The result exceeded all expectations, for the 52 room villa complete with warm water bath and extending over an area of 70 X 80 meter turned out to be the largest of its kind in the whole of the Roman province of Pannónia.

Exploration Work continued then — even if at a slow pace — until 1975, with the cooperation of, first the students of the Franciscan College, then of the Móricz Zsigmond secondary school, both of Szentendre. Then the money was exhausted, and the work had to be given up. The cold winter of 1978 weakened the walls, and a quick decision had to be made. Could they carry on with the exploration, conserve the ruins, or would they have to rebury even the already unearthed walls. According to preliminary calculations the conservation version would have required eight and a half million forint, and the reburial three and a half million forint. The funds available amounted only to a fraction of even the cheaper alternative and t he fate of the villa rustica appeared to be sealed.

An international building camp

When almost everybody already threw up their hands in despair, two research fellows of the Ethnographic Museum, György Balázs, an ethno grapher, and András Szalai, an archi tect, suggested they would organize a:, international building camp. In other words, the campers would — just for their board and lodging — do all the hard work to complete the project. That is the twelveyear old story of the villa in a nut-shell. Last year students came here to work from almost every country of Europe. They clean the explored walls, mark the top of the original wall, and lay another layer of stones on them partly to protect the ancient ruins, partly to make the ground-plan of the villa more easily identifiable.

The restoration work is not yet done. When it will be completed the villa will be on display to visitors of the museum.

Originally the villa had only three rooms and a large patio. The first builder — said Dr Judit Topái, — went there around 220 — 230 A. D. Very likely he was a former legionary, that is a veteran, perhaps stationed at Aquincum.

A vintner’s pruning knife and many remains of vine-shoots were dug up in the course of the exploration suggesting that those who lived in the villa grew grapes and perhaps made wine. As the years passed the villa was extended by two semi-circular side towers. Judging by the coins of Diocletian dug up, further building was done around 280 -290 A. D. The

northern wing was added, and the tepidarium and the passage flanked by ornate columns were built. The under-floor heating system and the fresco in the large north-western room are likely to date back to this time as well.

The last major building work Took place out around 320 — 330 A. D. That was when the central large patio was formed and earthenwear water pipes were replaced by lead ones. Probably a great fountain was built in the middle of the atrium.

A staging house for travellers

Since the villa was on the Roman road leading to Carnuntum and on to Vindobona - t hat is Vienna -. It is likely that the extensive building was no longer used exclusively by members of the family — at least the size of the extensions suggest this — but could have been a sort of staging house for imperial officials and messengers travelling on the highway. They could rest here, change horses and have their carriage repaired. Roman gentle-folk attached much importance to being well-groomed and finely dressed, even after a long and hazardous journey.

Barbarian incursions became more frequent in around 370 — 380 A. D. Forty years later the Romans evacuated the province, retreating in front of the advancing Huns. The inhabitants of the villa possibly evacuated their home in peace. There is no sign suggesting flight. They just packed all of their valuables, and removed even the door and window frames, in other words all moveable objects of value. Only a few lost coins and pieces of jewellery were uncovered besides the fresco mentioned.

The building was not inhabited in the age of the Great Migration. Recently a medium-size balm-cricket fibula was excavated from the base of the road-side wall. Warriors of the Hun period wore such badges of rank, suggesting that armies of later ages also roamed this district.

EMŐKE NAGV

In the course of their visit to Hungary Mr and Mrs Alexander M. Harley presented a diploma of honorary membership of the Modern Music Masters (Tri-M) society to Sarolta Péczely, the widow of Zoltán Kodály. The Tri-M society, which Mr Harley, a high-school teacher at the time, established in 1936, placed the cause of music education at school and outside schools on its banner. During the fifty fears of its operations Tri-M grew into a distinguished international organization. It has local branches in Canada, South America, Europe and Asia, all in all in seventeen countries.

This is what Mr Harley said about himself in an interview given to our reporter:

“We used to live in Kerepesi út. The old house still stands. The house where the Sziics drugstor used to be. That was where my father was the caretaker. He also did decorating jobs, he even took part in the painting of Parliament House. . . . In those days horse-drawn trams moved along Kerepesi út. For three farthings you could go all the way standing on the platform. Once a man showed us a magic lantern in our drill hall. 1 will never forget that magic. But that was really a long time ago. We went over to America in 1903. 1 was just nine at the time then. Yes, I am in my ninety-third now. You can shake on that. Well, what do you think? Is that firm enough ? I still do my exercises every morning.

My father often blew his top because I did not learn a proper trade. Why could 1 not be a joiner, a locksmith, or a decorator like he was? I did not want to put on paint. I wanted to make music. And my father did not give a dime for that. I went to evening school for six years, in the meantime I worked where I could to pay for my violin lessons.

During the Great War I enlisted in San Diego. I was an orderly in a hospital. And every Sunday 1 helped the chaplain. Then, when the war was over, he helped me. I obtained a scholarship and studied at Chicago University for four years. 1 became a conductor, and got a B. A. I went, to teach at schools anil conducted brass bands, orchestras and choirs. 1 have string quartet going to this day. We play in churches and hospitals.

Frances, my wife is also a musician, and she is interested in Hungarian folk-song. I always translate the words for her. She also wrote a dissertation about our folk-songs and won high praise for it at the university. She can also cook the Hungarian way. My mum taught her. We celebrated our golden wedding here in Budapest.

We made a sentimental journey back to Hernád utca, to the school I used to go to up to the fifth class. I wanted to see singing lesson. The children sang beautifully. I told them what I always tell children: that one must sing smiling all the time. And another thing: that one must never be angry, for when one is, it is worse for you than for the others. They had a good laugh, when saying good bye I kissed their teacher on both of her cheeks....”

I. B.

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