Diocletian had grown up in the nearby town of Salona, and his decision to put his retirement palace where he did caused the city of Split to grow up around it. He ruled as emperor for nearly twenty-one years, from AD 284 to 305. That's a long time to be a Roman emperor.
Famous for three things, Diocletian divided the Roman empire among four emperors in hope of have it be administered more efficiently, torturing and executing, and having his palace built.
It turns out dividing the empire weakened it and helped lead to the empire's decline and fall. By a certain point, the empire could not strike back.
(Editor: You managed to sneak references to both Edward Gibbon and George Lucas into the same paragraph. That's both surprising and impressive.
Writer: Thanks, I think!)
Also, his hatred of Christians didn't work well, as Diocletian's successor, Constantine, both legalized and then made Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire, thus effectively ending the widespread torture of Christians.
The palace only took a bit over ten years to build, between 295 and 305 AD. Of course, more than 2,000 slaves are believed to have died during construction, so have a disposable/replaceable workforce made it possible to build such a massive complex in such a quick time.
It's a pretty simple calculation: It's good to be the Emperor. It's bad to be a slave.
Diocletian lived there from 305 until his death in 316 AD.
Big chunks of the palace still exist, interwoven throughout the heart of Split. Some of the sections of the palace have been repurposed in both medieval and modern times.
Oh, and did I mention that Diocletian's Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Say it aloud with me -- "UNESCO means you must go!"
(Editor: Your pathetic attempts to get that saying adopted as the officially marketing slogan of UNESCO is both tireless and tiresome.
Writer: But it rhymes! And it sums up the special nature of UNESCO sites! And day now I will be feted by UNESCO with a lifetime pass for my genius saying. Btw, UNESCO is pronounced "U-NES-CO, not spelled out when verbalizing it.)
All joking aside, UNESCO sites are wonders of the world.
We spent some time wandering through the cellars, also known as the Podrumi (don't worry, that won't be on the test. Just trying to expand your knowledge.).
These massive vaulted chambers were essentially the basement, that housed troops, but also filled at times with water. After the fall of the empire, as regular people lived in the palace, the cellars were used as a dump. There is still a section of garbage that the archaeologists have not gotten to yet. The garbage provides clues and lessons about every day life.
The garbage got there by gravity. Starting in the mid-600s, villagers took refuge in the abandoned palace from Slavs on the warpath, holes were carved in the floor above so they could dump their garbage and sewage. I shit you not.
(Editor: This is a family publication. That language is uncalled for, even if it fits.
Writer: Don't give me that crap!)
As a reminder, none of the three of us watched the Game of Thrones. Neither Carol, Maddy, nor I have invested a minute's time in the popular series. Apparently, the cellars are where Daenerys Targaryen locked up her dragons. And have no fear, until I read this, I had never heard of her name before. In fact, unless the writer of what I read didn't call Daenerys a "her" I would have not been able to guess the gender.
(Editor: You wrote the second sentence of the paragraph just because you like the "neither/nor" construct.
Writer: Guilty.)
Along with petrified beams, there is an unexcavated portion, a stone olive oil press, original Roman sewer pipes, and more.
The best remaining
corner of the palace.
The vaulted main hall. . .absolutely
massive. No dragons, however.
An olive press from back
in the day. . .WAY back
in the day.
Rich Corinthian column.
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