Ovilava

Ovilava, Roman settlement mentioned in the Peutingersche Tafel and in the Itinerarium Antonini situated at the crossroads of 2 important traffic roads (Roman Roads), the present city of Wels. Under Emperor Hadrian (117-138 A.D.) Ovilava became an autonomous city (Municipium Aelium Ovilavis), under Emperor Caracalla (211-217 A.D.) it was raised to the rank of "colonia" and became the Colonia Aurelia Antoniniana Ovilava. Seat of parts of the civil administration. A defence wall was erected in the 3^rd century, comprising an area of 90 hectares. The inscription on the tombstone of Ursa, a devout Christian from the early 5^th century A.D., represents a monument to late antique ideals, which is unique in Austria. Finds in the town museum of Wels.

Literature: R. Miglbauer, Wels-Ovilava, 1986; regular reports in the Jahrbücher des Musealvereines Wels and in the Mitteilungen aus dem Stadtmuseum Wels.