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Archaeologia: Santa Marinella/Punta della Vipera
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by Caila Sempronius At a place called Punta della Vipera, not far from the centre of the town Santa Marinella, an important sanctuary has been brought to light. It was founded in the second half of the 6th century B.C. and destroyed at the beginning of the 4th century B.C. The plan of this little temple is almost square and has given us ancient architectonic terracottas most problably made by artisans from Caere, because Caere and its harbour Pyrgi were not far away and the temple must have belonged to the Caeretan region. The temple was decorated again at the beginning of the 4th century B.C. with clay coverings. The coastal territory of Caere was conquered by the Romans after 273 B.C. and probably the Roman maritime colony Castrum Novum was set up less than a mile from the Punta della Vipera sanctuary, which was further decorated for the occasion. The tiny temple, which is surrounded by a sacred precinct, has a small portico on the east side in front of which is the altar, perfectly preserved.
The sanctuary was most probably dedicated to the Etruscan divinity Menerva, which corresponds to the Latin goddess Minerva. Of particular interest is the discovery of two wells, one of which contains, together with fragments of architectonic terracottas, ceramics and bones, a lead slab with a long Etruscan inscription on it, perhaps dealing with an oracle (TLE 878), dating from the 5th century B.C. Around the walls of the enclosure, a votive stipe has also been found, made up of anatomic votive offerings (ex voti), money and vases (SE 33, 305 and 330) with inscriptions, all testifying to the popularity and importance of this place of worship between the 6th and 1st centuries B.C. Caila |
Archaeologia: Pyrgi
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