Basement Stories

During excavations within the Roman legionary fortress of Vindobona, an unusual cellar from the 4th century came to light. With a floor area of 450 m² and a depth of 5 m, it is a unique find on the Roman Danube frontier.

The basement’s function is a mystery: Floor plan, architecture, and recovered objects point to a sanctuary of the Mithraic cult or a treasure vault. But it could also have been a pantry, granary, or even a prison.

Using comparative examples, the exhibition investigates the various possibilities. Which of these is most likely and why? And what role could the building have played in the times of crisis in late antiquity?

Curatorial Team: Sophie Insulander, Michaela Kronberger, Martin Mosser, Kristina Adler-Wölfl Exhibition graphics: Larissa Cerny