The Romans, Fasnacht and the Basel Museum of Antiquities

13 February 2026

These are confusing times for the Romans. Julius Caesar paraded in 2023 with his legions through the streets of Basel, then better known (or rather unknown) as a Celtic settlement on the Münster hill and near the old gasworks. Caesar (100–44 BC) founded the Colonia Augusta Raurica in 44 BC and the Colonia Julia Equestris (Nyon), or he had ordered it before his death.

Augusta Raurica, once one of the largest Roman cities north of the Alps, today consists of two villages, Augst and Kaiseraugst, located in the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Aargau. Moreover, their heritage does not bear his name (Caesar or Kaiser), but that of the Habsburg emperors, who ruled Kaiseraugst until 1803, to distinguish it from Augst, named after Augustus (63 BC–14 AD, Caesar’s successor and adopted son). Augst belonged to the canton of Basel until 1833, then became part of the canton of Basel-Landschaft.

Fasnacht 2023

The Roman legion that crossed the Mittlere Brücke in 2025 did not understand the alemanic inscription “800 Joor Rybrugg”. At the time, there was indeed only one bridge over the Rhine, in Augusta Raurica.

Fasnacht 2025

To add to the Romans’ confusion, it turned out that Greek mythology is not only alive in Basel, but that new demons and heroes also appear at the Basel Museum of Antiquities (Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig).

The Romans grew up with Greek mythology, and the Greek heroes were also their heroes, as can be seen at the Museum of Antiquities until 29 March. However, the introduction of a new hero among new demons would have been foreign to them. There also remains the question of how Caesar would judge today’s presidents of America and Russia.

A new hero at the Antikenmuseum

In any case, fortunately, art historian Mike Stoll was present at the Museum of Antiquities to explain in more detail the relationship between the Romans and the Fasnacht (Carnival). Thanks to his eloquence and knowledge, he was able to establish a link between the Roman Saturnalia, the Council of Nicaea in 325, and the Basel Carnival.s explanation of the birth and development of the Basel Carnival, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was not limited to Roman times but was exhaustive, under the watchful eye of Dionysos/Bacchus, other gods and their heroes.

The Carnival event at the Basel Museum of Antiquities and Ludwig Collection took place as part of the museum’s sixtieth anniversary. And this is not a myth.

(Source and further information: Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig)