Oescus

Oescus, Palatiolon or Palatiolum was an important ancient city on the Danube river in Roman Moesia [1]. It later became known as Ulpia Oescus [1]. It lay northwest of the modern Bulgarian city of Pleven, near the village of Gigen [1]. Under Roman rule, Oescus began as an important military base and legionary fortress as part of the Danubian Limes [1]. The Roman Legio V Macedonica maintained its permanent military fortress intermittently at this site from 10 to 101 AD [1]. Archaeological excavations began at the site in 1904, carried out by Vaclav Dobruski [1]. The walled city has the shape of an irregular pentagon, with an initial area of 18 hectares; after 271 it was extended easterly with a 10 hectare addition [1]. In 1948, the mosaic known popularly as "The Achaeans" (3rd century AD) was discovered [1].