The future emperor Constantine was born in Naissus, now Niš in Serbia. The local airport is named after Constantine, and the municipal website features a symposium on Niš and Byzantium to mark the 1700th anniversary of Constantine being proclaimed emperor in York on 25 July 306. The history section in the menu on the left features “Niš through Centuries”, the first page of which covers the Roman period. A villa of Constantine's day has been excavated in Mediana, now a suburb of Niš. Again, follow the menu from history for more information on the villa and Constantine.
Also marking the 1700th anniversary of Constantine being proclaimed emperor is an exhibition in York (Eboracum), running until 29 October 2006. The BBC has a gallery of images from the exhibition, and a smaller gallery of pictures from Roman York.
BTW, Trier (Augusta Treverorum), Constantine’s capital as emperor of the West under the tetrarchic system, is holding a major Constantine exhibition next year (2007). Click here to read Irene’s account of her trip to Trier. The municipal website includes photos and a video of the Basilica, built as Constantine’s audience chamber and now a church.
Irene’s photos of the Basilica (more)
