Justinian's Ulpian Inscription – unique and political, not religious dedication

In the structures of the church on the mosaic with different motifs in 2023 he came across the Latin inscription. There it is clarified that it was the emperor Justinian, who personally initiated the construction of the city of Justiniana Secunda. The inscription is found in the central area of ​​the church, a space that has been seen from all sides of the cult object. Beyond this, the details of the inscription reveal other personal and political circumstances of the time when this side as part of the Empire of the time was ruled by the emperor of Dardanian descent, Justinian. The Dardanian continuity until the Middle Ages is also proven through the inscription in Latin. On Monday in the premises of the rectory, archaeologist Christophe Goddard drew a conclusion. "This dedication is not a religious dedication, it is political, as it is the first dedication for a city. So there was a political decision within a church. Therefore, the evolution of the place of the church during Justinian came to the political level", he said.

The Senate Hall at the Rectorate of the University of Prishtina hosted a special presentation on Monday. The inscription discovered last year in the archaeological site of Ulpiana has been deciphered by archaeologists who have been dealing with it for more than a year. Archaeologists Christophe Goddard, representative of the "Ecole Normale Supérieure" from Paris and head of the "Aoroc" laboratory, Arben Hajdari from the University of Pristina and Milot Berisha, acting director of the Archaeological Institute of Kosovo, were in front of about 50 people. The old discovery had echoed as something unique not only as a find, but also as a content that elaborates the politics of the XNUMXth century, precisely at the time when Justinian was the ruler of these parts. 

The French archaeologist, Christophe Goddard, has said that Justinian built many buildings and cities and gave his own name to the cities. 

"But I insist that in the Latin-speaking world it is the only dedication signed by Justinian and Theodora. There are inscriptions where he is mentioned, but no such dedications from him", said Goddard. 

The history of the archaeological site of Ulpiana is fascinating. The cooperation between the French institutions and those of Kosovo under the financial support of the European Union has revealed interesting details. It has been proven that the settlement dates back to prehistoric times. Archaeologist Arben Hajdari has apologized for the history of excavations in this locality. It has shown that it was first worked on in 1953, then in 1954, 1959, and further apart until the post-war years. Hajdari also explained the international cooperation that is being developed and also compared the structures of the recently discovered church with those of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna. The iconic Ravenna Church dates back to 504 in the Italian coastal city. 

"The comparison seems very close to us," said Hajdari. Geophysical recordings have shown at the end of 2019 that archaeologists will be dealing with a large church, 78 meters long and 23 meters wide, which is bigger than the cathedral 'Mother Teresa' in Pristina. Next to the church, there was a large house 40 by 40 meters.

But years ago archaeologists had stumbled upon something that became a sensation. Historical sources, but also field data have shown that after the destruction of the city of Ulpiana, Justiniana Secunda was built some 700 meters to the east. Evidence for this was also the structures of the Paleo-Christian church 

In the structures of the church on the mosaic with different motifs, the Latin inscription was found. There it is clarified that it was the emperor Justinian, who personally initiated the construction of the city of Justiniana Secunda. The inscription is found in the central area of ​​the church, a space that has been seen from all sides of the cult object. Beyond this, the details of the inscription reveal other personal and political circumstances of the time when this side as part of the Empire of the time was ruled by the emperor of Dardanian descent, Justinian. The Dardanian continuity until the Middle Ages is also proven through the inscription in Latin.

On Monday in the premises of the rectory, archaeologist Goddard drew a conclusion. 

"This dedication is not a religious dedication, it is political, as it is the first dedication for a city. So there was a political decision within a church. Therefore, the evolution of the place of the church during Justinian came to the political level", he said. 

He has repeatedly talked about a monumental dedication to the city that was located in Dardani. The fact that the Emperor mentions this as his creation is an interesting detail, since according to archaeologists, it indicates that he financed the construction of the city and the construction of the temples. Justinian had ruled from 527 to 565.

But now archaeologists have narrowed down the time of building the church or the city. 

"We have narrowed the time, 537-545 I wish we can reduce the dating time even more. I wish we could reduce the time even more and know exactly when this bishopric was built, which was of great importance not only for the area of ​​Ulpiana, but also for Dardania itself", said Berisha in the guest lecture entitled, "Dedication the unique Latin of the foundation of an urbs Dardaniae by Emperor Justinian and Theodora”. 

Excavations this year around the inscription space have revealed colorful pieces of mosaics that feature geometric figures, birds and water fountains. It is about the part of the baptistery, or baptistery. The structures of the building have the signs of time and the damage is not small. Likewise in the case of mosaics. But so far at least in one case, the mosaics clearly reflect the art and dedications of the time. A bird figure and water fountain have been carefully worked while most of the bird on the other side of the fountain has been worn away by time. 

Christophe Goddard, in August of this year, said that they are dealing with beautiful mosaics with birds and fountains that are a symbol of baptism. He described them as elegant finds. 

"We think that the mosaic should be accessible to the public. A way must be found to consolidate and protect it, so that when there are visitors, the mosaics can be discovered," he said.

Archaeologist Arben Hajdari, at the same time a professor at the University of Pristina, has said that it is a composition with geometric motifs and then with birds, fountains, baskets and other elements which are characteristic for this period, the early stages of Christianity. 

"So it's something common that we find. But in terms of motifs, the composition is a quality mosaic, which is understandable given the fact that it was intended for a magnificent basilica, which this was. So an episcopal basilica", he said.

And in August of this year, the Government of Kosovo put an end to the processes of expropriation of the plots where the archaeological site of Ulpiana - the most important in the country - and that of Dresnik are located. In the 216th meeting in a row, the Government had authorized the institutions to make payments for parcels. For the archaeologists leading the works in these localities, this was the most important news in relation to the archaeological heritage of the country. 

In three hectares, visitors since 2016 – when part of the locality was declared an archaeological park – can see many structures and finds. In the first sector of the Park there are Roman baths, a temple and a fortified basilica with four towers. But, ready to be seen is only one tower. The second consists of suburban villas or suburban villas, namely from the ruins of the walls of one side of the villa, after half of the XNUMXst century the space was transformed into a cemetery and is now called the northern necropolis. The third sector offers visitors the episcopate basilica, otherwise known as the cathedral. It is a large ecclesiastical complex of late antiquity, paleo-Christian construction.