Avenches – Roman Museum – Permanent Exhibition

Ground Floor The Gallo-Roman Population of Switzerland and Their View of Death
The Extraordinary Finds at the Necropolis of En Chaplix
The deceased was buried in an oak trunk. The rich grave goods given to her (1)
consisted of a bronze jug, a glass bottle and two glass goblets, a pot or goblet made
of soapstone, a ceramic cup, a partly silver-plated bronze spoon, a necklace made of
glass and jet beads, a jet bracelet as well as four bone sticks (not exhibited).
The glass goblets bear engravings, which are among the earliest evidence of the
Christian faith found in western Switzerland. On the bigger vessel, the Latin inscription
Vivas in Deo
«May you live in God»
clearly refers to the hope of resurrection. The smaller goblet shows an inscription in
Greek, partly preserved, abbreviated and transcribed with Latin letters,
Pie zezes
«Drink that you may live»
which affirms that eternal life is obtained by holy communion.
1. Bronze jug.
2. Glass bottle.
3. Glass goblet with the inscription Vivas in Deo (“May you live in God”)
4. Glass goblet with the inscription pie zezes (“Drink that you may live”)
5. Bronze spoon.
6. Pot or goblet made of soapstone.
7. Ceramic cup.
8. Glass and jet bead necklace.
9. Jet bracelet
The Extraordinary Finds at the Necropolis of En Chaplix
During the construction of the motorway important archaeological remains were
discovered in En Chaplix (2), situated at a distance of approximately 150 m from the
north-east gate of Aventicum.
The first sanctuary was erected around 15/10 BC, during the reign of the
emperor Augustus (27 BC – AD 14). In the middle of an open square, bordered by
a ditch, a wooden aedicule (small wooden temple) sheltered the cremation burial
of a woman and probably her child. The discovery of two fibulae originating from
regions either along the Danube or in the eastern Alps indicate that the deceased
may have come from that area. The numerous coin offerings prove that this tomb
had become a place of veneration.
During the reign of Tiberius (AD 14 – 37) the En Chaplix site grew in a rapid
and spectacular way (3). The construction of a road leaving Aventicum in the
northeast was followed by the reconstruction and extension of the first sanctuary.
The aedicule was replaced by a small Gallo-Roman temple (fanum) and a chapel.
A similar complex was erected directly beside it. The timber walls were probably
inserted into masonry foundations. These sanctuaries were frequently visited in the
1st century in particular and remained intact well into the 4th century AD.
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Ground Floor
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