Editing Pécs (section)

=== Ancient Roman city ===
{{Main|Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs}}
[[File:Pécs - Early Christian Mausoleum 02.JPG|thumb|left|Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae)]]

The area has been inhabited since ancient times, with the oldest archaeological findings being 6,000 years old. Before the Roman era, the area was inhabited by [[Celts]].

The city of '''''Sopianae''''' was founded by [[Roman Empire|Romans]] at the beginning of the 2nd century, in an area peopled by Celts and [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Pannonian tribes|Pannoni]] tribes. 

In the early 2nd century, when much of today's western Hungary was a province of the [[Roman Empire]] named [[Pannonia]], the Romans founded several wine-producing colonies under the collective name of Sopianae where Pécs now stands.

The centre of Sopianae was where the Bishop's Palace now stands. Some parts of the [[Roman aqueduct]] are still visible. When the Roman province of Pannonia was divided into four administrative divisions, Sopianae was named the capital of the division named Valeria.

By the 4th century, Sopianae became the capital of [[Pannonia Valeria|Valeria province]] and a significant [[early Christian]] centre. The early Christian [[necropolis]] in the city dates back to this era, and the Christian tombs there are unique in their architectural design, consisting of underground burial chambers below above-ground memorial chapels, and are highly decorated with Christian murals.<ref name= unesco>{{cite web |title= Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae) |website= UNESCO World Heritage Convention |publisher= United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization |url= https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/853 |access-date= 14 May 2023}}</ref> These tombs became a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] in December 2000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pécs, a kultúra városa|url=http://www.pecs.hu/index.php?foid=1&oldal=koszonto|access-date=2010-04-05|archive-date=2008-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424162830/http://www.pecs.hu/index.php?foid=1&oldal=koszonto|url-status=live}}</ref> By the end of the century, Roman rule weakened in the area, mostly due to attacks by various [[Barbarian#In classical Greco-Roman contexts| Barbarian]] peoples, more prominently the [[Huns]].