Bronze Gate (Diocletian's Palace)

The Bronze Gate (Croatian: Mjedena vrata, Latin: Porta Meridionalis), or "the Southern Gate", is the smaller of the four principal Roman gates into the stari grad (old town) of Split that was once Diocletian's Palace. It was originally a sea gate from which the Emperor entered the complex by boat, via the basement rooms in the Imperial Palace. Today it is the main entry point from the Promenade to the Cathedral.

Bronze Gate
Native name
Croatian: Mjedena vrata
Bronze Gate (Porta Meridionalis) as it appeared in 2017
TypeGate
LocationSplit, Croatia
Coordinates43°30′27″N 16°26′23″E
Built4th century AD
Built byDiocletian
Architectural style(s)Roman
Location of Bronze Gate in Croatia

History

The gate was constructed just below the peristyle of Diocletian's Palace. There was no promenade; instead, the sea lapped up against the walls,[1] allowing ships to dock at the palace. Known in late antiquity as the Porta Meridionalis ("Southern Gate"), it was probably used by Diocletian to travel to and from the docks.[2] In the Middle Ages, the gate was known as the "Security Gate".[3] Today it is the most frequently used palace gate, and a starting point for many guided tours because of its access to the Riva.[4]

Description

The Bronze Gate was the main gate of Diocletian's palace (via the sea), located in the middle of the south wall; today this section of the outer walls is the best preserved.

The style of the gate is completely different from the other three gates of the Palace. It is smaller in size, lacks decoration, and is not supported by gatehouses on either side. The gate used to be a direct exit to the sea and escape in the event of an attack on the Palace, so in the Middle Ages, it was known as the "Security Gate".[5]

See also

References
  1. "Brass Gate, Split".
  2. "Split - Mjedena vrata".
  3. "Mjedena vrata Split | stari grad, atrakcije, palace | localhost". 12 March 2016.
  4. "Split - Mjedena vrata".
  5. "Mjedena vrata Split | stari grad, atrakcije, palace | localhost". 12 March 2016.

Further reading
  • Šušnjar, Bogdan, Villa de Diocleziano in Split, Naklada Bošković, Split, 2003. ISBN 953-7090-06-X
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