Segessera
SEGESSERA in Gallia, is placed in the Table between Corobilium (Corbeil) and Andomatunum (Langres), and the distance of Segessera from each place is marked xxi. The site of Segessera is not certain. Some fix it at a place named Suzannecourt. [COROBILIUM]
[G.L]On the Roman road from Reims to Langres that runs parallel to the Aube, Segessera replaced a prehistoric settlement in the oppidum of Sainte-Germaine, S of Barsur-Aube. The center of the Gallo-Roman city lay 2 km to the N, at Val de Thor. Remains have been found over more than 1 km, as well as many objects: statuettes, coins (especially 3d and 4th c. A.D.), and pottery. At Bar-sur-Aube itself some metal and glass objects have been uncovered, also local wares, and pottery of high quality imported in the second third of the 1st c. A.D. from La Graufesenque and even from Italy—evidence that the settlement was large and was romanized at an early stage.
A few km away, probably close to a mansio on the Reims-Langres road, is the villa of Etifontaine. It includes sophisticated bath installations, which were succeeded perhaps by a Christian chapel until the whole building was abandoned at the end of the 4th c.
BIBLIOGRAPHYE. Frézouls, Gallia 25 (1967) 274f; 27 (1969) 297f; 29 (1971) 283f; 31 (1973) 402-4; R. Rubaud, Bull. Soc. Arch. du Département de l'Aube 2 (1968) 46-86.
E. FRÉZOULS