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ECHZELL Kreis Büdingen (Hessen) Germany.

A castellum ca. 35 km NW of Frankfurt a.M. on the frontier of Germania Superior. One of the largest limes castella in this province, it was built here shortly after the rebellion of the upper Germanic legate L. Antonius Saturninus (A.D. 88-89) and existed until the collapse of the upper Germanic limes in the middle of the 3d c. A.D. The garrison consisted of auxiliary troops, among them some cavalry.

The Roman buildings are known only from the excavations. The castellum had the customary rectangular ground plan with rounded corners and four gates with an interior area of 5.2 ha. Several building periods have been established. The first fortifications and interior buildings were of wood. Under Hadrian a stone wall was erected. Destructions occurred in the second half of the 2d c. A.D. and ca. 233. Among the most important finds are frescos, which were found in the officers' quarters of a barracks in the castellum. Their origin can be dated between 135 and 155. An almost completely preserved wall shows three two-figure scenes with gods and mythical figures within the frame of an architectural painting, presently in the Saalburgmuseum, Bad Homburg v.d.H.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

D. Baatz, “Römische Wandmalerein aus dem Limeskastell Echzell, Kr. Büdingen (Hessen),” Germania 46 (1968) 40-52PI.

D. BAATZ

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