LIEDENA
Navarra, Spain.
A large Roman
villa SB of Pamplona, near Sangüesa. It occupies an
elevated site on the right bank of the Irati opposite the
impressive Foz de Lumbier, and covers an area 168 by
76 m. There were two major phases and several reconstructions.
The original villa, of uncertain date, covers an area
112 by 48 m; only the hypocaust system and the baths
on the E side are visible. In the 4th c. (pre-Constantine),
it was completely rebuilt: The villa was enlarged, a
peristyle was built with paved galleries and geometric
mosaics, a cistern (27 x 5.5 m) of unknown purpose
was added, and the position of the hypocaust was changed
to the W. Later two wings were added towards the S
with ca. 50 rooms. It is basically a villa rustica devoted
to the cultivation of vines and olive trees at the N limit
of these crops. In the early period it was of military
importance since it was on the access road towards the
grain-growing areas of Sangilesa and the Cinco Villas
and might have had troops stationed there. Finds are in
the Pamplona Museum.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
B. Taracena & L. Vazquez de Parga,
“Excavaciones de la villa de Liddena,”
Excavaciones en
Navarra II,
1947-1951 (1956) 43-107
I; M. A. Mezquiriz, “Ceramica de Liédena,” ibid. 107ff; id., “Mosaicos de Liddena,” ibid. 189ff.
J. MALUQUER DE MOTES
