Beneath Gosposvetska Street in downtown Ljubljana, Slovenia, a construction project in August 2017 led to unexpected discoveries by Slovenian archaeologists. The excavations unveiled remains of the Roman settlement of Emona, which eventually became the modern capital of Slovenia.

Established as the Roman settlement of Emona around 2,000 years ago, Ljubljana was populated by thousands of colonists expelled from northern Italy due to land shortages and joined by veterans of wars that helped establish the Roman Empire. Excavations in the area revealed a late-Roman cemetery complex with over 350 burials, ranging from simple graves and sarcophagi to family mausoleums.

The burial chapel of a significant woman became a focal point of the cemetery complex. The Christian community in Emona thrived after the last major state persecution under Emperor Diocletian in the early 300s and persisted until the destruction of Emona by the Huns in the fifth century A.D.

One remarkable artifact found during the excavations was a transparent blue glass bowl placed next to the woman’s body. The 1,700-year-old vessel featured grape decorations, vine leaves, and tendrils on the outside.

A Greek inscription on the inside instructed the owner to “Drink to live forever, for many years!” This exquisite drinking bowl could have been used in both daily life and burial ceremonies.

Its chemical composition suggests manufacturing in the eastern Mediterranean region, and the grapevine decorations have associations with both the Christian Eucharist and motifs linked to Dionysus, the pagan god of wine and ecstasy.

Researchers are intrigued by the evolution of the woman’s tomb over time. Within approximately a decade of her burial, her square chapel was demolished, and a larger structure was built to enclose her tomb. Around and inside this new structure, Emona’s Christian community began practicing a burial ritual known as ad sanctos, where the deceased are interred near the tombs of saints and other remains considered holy.

The identity and significance of the honored woman in the chapel remain speculative, with questions about her social status, religious affiliation, and place of birth. Ongoing analysis of her physical remains may provide more answers in the future. Meanwhile, the valuable finds from Gosposvetska Street are on display at the City Museum of Ljubljana.