Temple of Antas explained

Temple of Antas
Alternate Name:Tempio di Antas
Map Type:Italy Sardinia
Type:Monument
Excavations:yes
Condition:ruined
Management:I Beni Culturali della Sardegna
Public Access:yes
Website:Sassari, Fluminimaggiore, tempio di Antas

The Temple of Antas is an ancient Carthaginian-Roman temple in the commune of Fluminimaggiore, southern Sardinia, Italy.[1] It is located in an area colonised by the Carthaginians and then by the Romans, attracted by its silver and lead deposits.[2]

It consists of a Roman temple, under whose steps are the remains of the Carthaginian one, which was dedicated to the god Sid Addir, a later incarnation of the local god Sardus Pater Babai, the main male divinity of the Nuragic civilization.[3]

The original temple had been built around 500 BC over a sacred limestone outcrop, and restored around 300 BC. The Roman temple was built by emperor Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) and restored under Caracalla (213-217 AD).

Its remains were discovered in 1836 by general Alberto La Marmora, and rebuilt to the current status in 1967.[4]

The fore section of the temple includes six columns, with a height of some 8 metres, with Ionic capitals. Originally a triangular pediment was also present. The cella was accessed through two side openings and had a mosaic-covered pavement, part of which has been preserved. The temple was provided with two square reservoirs, which housed the water for the sacred rites of purification.

It is likely that a statue of the Sardus Pater was housed in the cella. According to the size of the only remain found, a finger, it has been estimated that it was some 3 metres high.

The archaeological area of temple includes a small necropolis, remains of an ancient Nuragic village (13th-10th centuries BC), Roman quarries of limestone and an ancient path connecting the temple to a sacred cave where the water cult was practised.

See also

External links

39.394°N 8.5002°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Places: 471971 (Metalla) . Dyson, S., DARMC, R. Talbert, S. Gillies, T. Elliott, J. Becker . 17 February 2021 . January 3, 2015 . Pleiades.
  2. Book: Logus-Mezzolani. Archeologia della Sardegna. 21 July 2012. Logus. 978-88-98062-00-3. 24–.
  3. Web site: Places: 472015 (Sardus Pater, T.) . Dyson, S. . March 9, 2020 . Pleiades.
  4. Book: Raimondo Zucca. Il Tempio di Antas. 1989. Carlo Delfino. 9788871381817 .

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