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) 40-52
PI.
D. BAATZ