In the area of Ilidza, it is still possible to come across monuments that have not yet been published in scientific literature or transferred to museums or other suitable places.
That was how it happened a few months ago on the banks of the Zeljeznica River, prof. Ph. D. sc. Salmedin Mesihovic from the Department of History and the Department of Archeology of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Sarajevo spotted a monument near the bridge that had remained unnoticed until now. It is a typical Roman monument with a Latin inscription that was unfortunately washed away by the river water.
In the era of classical civilization, Sarajevo represents untapped potential in almost all aspects of life, especially in those related to science, education, economy, art, identity, and culture.
In an interview with agency Fena, prof. Mesihovic points out that a dynamic, interesting and rich development took place in the area of Sarajevo during almost six centuries of Roman rule, only on the basis of previous knowledge gained from scarce and still insufficient research. The local illyrian-Desityate population quickly adopted the legacy of classical civilization, from literacy to the urban way of life. Over time, the Republic of Akva republica Aquarum translated as Republika Toplice as a self-governing and autonomous area with an urban and administrative center located in the present-day park-hotel spa area of the Luzani settlement in Ilidza.
It is well documented that the Sarajevo area has a long-lasting continuous culture of living that dates back to the Proto-Neolithic era some 8,000 years ago, and Akva represents the era when that settlement culture grew into a real city, which the current Sarajevo residents don't know very much about. The Republic of Akva was well populated, with a large population scattered throughout the Sarajevo field. In their centre in today s Luzani, the Akvenians, not only in their centre, but also in other places in the Sarajevo area, maintained a high standard of living with homes in which there was central heating as early as 1,800 years ago, paved with beautifully made mosaics and walls painted with frescoes, with numerous inscriptions, statues and other monuments.
He added that we hope that the competent museum, cantonal and municipal institutions will save this object so that it will not be destroyed and placed in appropriate facilities.
Professor Mesihovic pointed out that there are a number of other buildings that can be seen on the surface, which may have been created during the existence of the Republic of Akva. A lot of it was buried or destroyed during the accelerated urbanization of Sarajevo during the Austro-Hungarian period, and especially during the enormous expansion of Sarajevo during the socialist period, such as a settlement on Marindvor.