Teriolis
or Teriŏla Castra. A fortress in Rhaetia, which has given its name to the country of the Tyrol.
In the Inn valley, ca. 12 km W of Innsbruck, on the Roman road which led from Veldidena via the Seefeld saddle (1185 m) to Augusta Vindelicum (Augsburg). This road was the N continuation of the Brenner road. About 2 km E of the site there rises a limestone ledge (ca. 500 x 200 m), the Martinsbühel, between the Inn river and the steep wall called Martinswand. Between Martinswand and Martinsbühel there was only a very narrow passage for the Roman road, and thus nature had provided an excellent roadblock. This was further enhanced by a blocking wall (2 m thick) built up against the Martinswand (the age of the wall is still uncertain). The Martinsbühel itself is for ca. 360 m (W-E) surrounded by a wall 2 m thick, reminiscent of similar fortifications of Late Roman times. There seems to have been an E gate. Although no systematic excavations have as yet been undertaken, casual explorations have confirmed the existence of Roman buildings, some with hypocausts. Numerous coins date the site: they occur in larger numbers dated from the middle of the 3d c. A.D., and are most numerous in the 4th c. The development of this fortified place is obviously connected with the threat to the roads after the Raetic limes collapsed (ca. A.D. 259-60). According to Notitia Dignitatum (35.31; 35.22) not only a “tribunus gentis per Raetias deputatae” had his seat here, but also a “praefectus legionis tertiae Italicae transvectioni specierum deputatae.”
Teriolis is therefore an impressive example of a Late Roman roadblock at the foot of an important pass, here serving to secure the flank of the castellum Veldidena. It also had the function—under the command of the dux Raetiae—of a supply and reenforcement base.
A discovery made in 1964 fits in with the Late Classical character of the Martinsbühel. During an excavation (not yet published) within St. Martin's church were found remnants of an Early Christian church (ca. 14 x 8.5 m) with a semicircular clergy bench, in the apse. No traces have been found of the altar; an oval pit with a stone wall probably held the reliquary. The church can be dated (although in the absence of finds) to the 6th c. on the basis of similar ground plans. Teriolis is a good example of the fact (frequently observable in Late Classical times) that a small Christian church appears in fortifications.
BIBLIOGRAPHYO. Menghin, “Die Lage von Teriolis,” Forschungen und Mitteilungen zur Geschichte Tirols und Vorarlbergs 10 (1913) 177ffMP; W. Cartellieri, Die römischen Alpenstrassen über den Brenner, Reschen-Scheideck und Plöckenpass (1926) 146ff; A. Wotschitzky, “Grabung in der Kapelle St. Martin am Martinsbühel bei Zirl,” Pro Austria Romana 14 (1964) 36ff.
R. NOLL