NICULITEL MARTYRICON

open:

Thursday to Sunday

summer: 08.00 AM - 04.00 PM

winter: 09.00 - 06.00 PM

Monday closed.

The Pale-Christian monument in Niculitel is placed in the north-eastern part of the locality, at the foot of the hill Piatra Rosie, which borders the village at the eastern side. Within this area vestiges of villae rusticae were discovered and a tomb of incineration of Roman epoch of 2nd century AD was investigated

The monument was discovered due to torrential rains during the spring of 1971 which brought about the partial unveiling of the crypt vault. placed in a slanting area \, in a dwelt and cross-roads zone, the monument needed a thorough research which developed in successive phases (1971, 1975, 1985, 1994).

We are faced at Niculitel with an architectonic ensemble built within an older dwelling area. It consists of a Pale-Christian basilica placed above some martyr tombs.

The basilica belongs to a types of monuments found in the Balkan-Danubian region during the 4th-5th centuries AD. It was built at the end of the 4th century during the rules of the emperors Valens-Valentinian the 2nd, according to a Christian Roman layout, with a protruding semicircular apses, wide in comparison with its side, with rectangular nave divided in three by independent pillars which supported within the vertical space of the building a wooden two-sided roof, covered with burnt-earthen shingle. The building had no narthex, but it had pilasters at the southern edges of the side naves which supported transversal archways and divided the interior space of these naves, at both sides of the entrance of the central nave. This entrance was wide placed on the axis of the apses.

At the beginning of the 5th century, during the rule of the emperor Theodosius the 2nd. the basilica is strongly  modified, both in its horizontal layout and the vertical one. In the zone of the apses an open narthex was endorsed. Probably there also was a strium (a small interior courtyard from where one could pass through the narthex to the interior of the basilica). It is divided by continuous stylobates (basements which could support high columns). The presbyterium (sanctuary which hid the martyr remains and the same time the place where the mass was officiated) was surrounded by a transversal wall. As for the vertical plan, there was the central nave with a two sided roof. Above the side naves there was a "cathedral" roof.

In the central zone of the apses, under the pavement of the altar, there was an entirely buried monumental martyr crypt. The tiered structure of the crypt allowed to have here two groups of martyrs. A first group of four martyrs was placed at the upper part of the martyricon. Other two were found at the lower part. The four martyrs were put in a collective coffin and in anatomical connection, emphasizing a primary burial. Their quality of Christian martyrs and their names (Zoticos, Attalos, Camasis and Philippos) are written on the wet plaster of the crypt walls. They are known in the Martyr's Chronicles as being martyred at Noviodunum (Isaccea). The martyrdom was during the second half of the 4th century AD. The osteological remains discovered in the "basement" of the martyricon proceed from an older martyr tomb, dismantled when the monumental crypt was built. Its rests (that is the floor made of bricks) are found near the crypt. Its orientation, as well as the basilica's one, was along the axis of the first martyr's tomb. The size of the sanctuary depended of the fact that it had to include the two martyr tombs under its basement.

The name and the age of the two martyrs still are obscure. The only mention is found on the inscription which blocked the access to the basement: "Here and there (is) the blood of the martyrs.

The Niculitel Martyricon is a unique monument in Europe. The whole building is designed according to the principle of the intersection of two semi cylinders (vooute d'arete), having as result a hemispherical vault with interior pendants which bound walls with rounded archways. The Niculitel Martyrion having a cube shape, with acrotermius and hemispherical vault, represents the first transposition of the architectural principles which made up the background of the Greek-Roman mausoleums into the Pale-Christian architecture.

The elements revealed by the planimetry of the basilica space certify that the crypt and the basilica were built according to the Byzantine foot (0.32 m).

The ensemble of Niculitel is included in a protecting building having a planimetry which harmonizes with the shape of the paleo-Christian tomb. Its elegance and the uncrowned interior space create a pleasant atmosphere. The side gallery designed for the visitors ensures a permanent visual contact with the monument. The permanent exhibition of paleo-Christian objects, color photos and slides completes the visit of the whole paleo-Christian ensemble.