La pubblicazione del terzo e del quarto volume dei Quaderni del Museo Civico di Lanuvio prosegue ... more La pubblicazione del terzo e del quarto volume dei Quaderni del Museo Civico di Lanuvio prosegue ed arricchisce il lavoro di ricognizione e di ricerca scientifica su questa importante realtà della nostra Provincia.
Wheat, wine, wool, cheeses, horses. Cities and countryside in central-eastern Sicily between the ... more Wheat, wine, wool, cheeses, horses. Cities and countryside in central-eastern Sicily between the Punic wars and the first empire - For the Sicilian events in the Punic wars it is normal to think of naval battles, the conquest of Syracuse by the consul Marcellus. In the interior of Sicily, in this area of contact, it was a land war; Livy dedicates a lot of space to the events of Enna, Morgantina, Herbessos. The war events led to confiscations and redistributions of land; the phenomenon was not homogeneous: the Enna case was considerably different from Morgantina, the Centuripe case was still different. After the war with Sextus Pompey, the Augustan reorganization of Sicily saw the foundation of coloniae, all in coastal cities; the consequences for the interior layout were considerable. For example Morgantina, who had risen after the damage of the Second Punic War and the repopulation with former Spanish mercenaries, disappeared; and so are other mountain centers. The Catania-Agrigento road is the only one that does not retrace the previous road system; connects Catania, one of the newly established coloniae, with Agrigento, which retains its importance for the imperial age: it is clear that the new artery affects the layout of the territory. Wheat and animal husbandry seem to coexist, sometimes with continuity in a long period of time.
“Libations that the earth drinks”: a sacellum for Demeter and Kore? - A return to an old excavati... more “Libations that the earth drinks”: a sacellum for Demeter and Kore? - A return to an old excavation at Centuripe reinforces the view that the extant remains are not those of a house but of a sacellum of Demeter and Kore. The investigation was a collaboration between the then-Museo Civico of Centuripe and the Soprintendenza per i Beni Culturali e Ambientali of Enna. The remains of three rooms were brought to light. A modern dry-stone terrace wall had protected the surviving portion of the ancient structure, the walls of which are preserved at some points to a maximum height of two meters, with very slight depth below ground. A preliminary report was published; the excavated materials are located in the Museo Archeologico Regionale of Centuripe. At first view the structure closely resembles a house, but pointing to identification as a sacellum are a walled niche and features for sub-soil libations, as well as the presence of female terracotta figures with torch and piglet.
For some time an indigenous figured crater from Calascibetta has been the starting point for disc... more For some time an indigenous figured crater from Calascibetta has been the starting point for discussing the eastern margins of Sikania. The elegant stylization has nothing Greek about it and finds parallels in the area between Caltanissetta and the Lake of Pergusa. This is the same area that will became home to the famous sanctuary of Demeter in Enna. The proposed identification of the cave in the sanctuary of Cozzo Matrice as the spot where the chariot of Hades emerged from the underwold is truly intriguing. The cult of Demeter and Kore is linked to such naturalistic details as the flowers that the maiden was picking at the time of her abduction. Palynological investigations have led to a better reading of the history of plants, such as the olive in relations to the contacts with the Aegean world. It may be worth remembering that the piacentinu cheese may make its appearence with the Branciforte cheesemakers, but it uses the crocus sacred to the goddess. A new development has been initiated, integrating site visits to Cozzo Matrice with the exhibition in the Enna Museum; naturalistc features are emphasized, making possibile links with a variety of others activities.
The lake in the mountains: urban landscapes in the archaic age. From the sixteenth century to ... more The lake in the mountains: urban landscapes in the archaic age. From the sixteenth century to the present, references to the “city of Demeter” and its link to the lake of Pergusa have remained a constant in historiography. Euboean imports into this central area are attested already in the first generation of Greek settlement, during the final thirty years of the eighth century BC: very early on the zone of Chalcidian expansion extended so far into the interior. The lake of Pergusa is the only such body of water in inland Sicily, and so it became one of the most interesting areas for human settlement. Several border sanctuaries shaped a common meeting place, where Greek cults came to be practiced by locals. Under the Deinomenids, Demeter Hennaia was configured as the presiding deity of a Greek city, in this strategic spot between the south-western coast (Gela) and the eastern coast (Syracuse): a place that would be defined as the Sikelias omphalòs/umbilicus Siciliae. Some archaeological indicators suggest a developing society. The power of warriors was being consolidated, either Greeks or local leaders who were connected to the Greek element. The chiefdom model seems the most probable for these agricultural-farming communities. The military leader (chieftain) succeeded in holding together the group, due to his ability to guarantee booty. The role of mixed marriages is clear: in these border areas, the Greek element was represented by warriors and merchants (not necessarily distinct); the women were locals and came from a high social class.
The archaeological investigation carried out during the realization of an access road to the Vill... more The archaeological investigation carried out during the realization of an access road to the Villa has given the opportunity to verify the extent of the medieval town and reconsider the approach to the Villa. The recent excavations improved our knowledge of the monument; in particular, after the discovery of the southern baths, it is clear that the Villa had two bathing complexes, for different users. Allowing the tourists to access the villa through the same route crossed in the fourth century can be a good calling card for the monument: they start with the southern baths (the ones accessible to all) and then, skirting the large storehouses that clarify the productive function of the Villa, enter the three-arched monumental entrance (which, by itself, leaves no doubt about its representative function). We are now beginning to know large parts of the medieval village that followed the villa; therefore, it is advisable to let people visit them as they meet them along the way.
Central Sicily between the Punic Wars and the First Empire. Some remarks - The Punic Wars are fou... more Central Sicily between the Punic Wars and the First Empire. Some remarks - The Punic Wars are fought for control of the Mediterranean. It is normal to think of naval battles, the conquest of Syracuse by the consul Marcellus. In the interior of Sicily, in this area of contact it was a land war; Livius writes at length about the events in Enna, Morgantina, Herbessos: it is certainly not a coincidence. Archeology begins to suggest the possible existence of a commercial flow between the Carthaginian environment and the city of the interior, capable of transforming itself into a military alliance. Cicero already observed that Sicily prima docuit maiores nostros quam praeclarum esset exteris gentibus imperare. And Sicily, with its connections with the whole Mediterranean, lent itself very well to act as a test bed. After the victory at Naulochus gave him absolute control over the West, during the journey of 22/21 BC, Augustus provided for a reorganization of Sicily. Although the coloniae are all in coastal cities, the consequences for the interior layout were considerable.
In 1906 a conference in Centuripe proposed the establishment of an association for the promotion ... more In 1906 a conference in Centuripe proposed the establishment of an association for the promotion of the city's potential for attracting tourists. The economic importance of the new phenomenon of tourism was acknowledged and it was stressed that Centuripe had all the needed credentials in the sector, which could resolve most economic problems. Environment and cultural heritage could become a driving force for the economy. Monuments were seen as a non-renewable economic resource. The association would have had the task of advertising the landscape value of the city's sites and the importance of antiquities. The creation of a museum would have been easy, because of the presence of private collections that could flow into it; the protection of the monuments that were gradually being discovered would have been an investment in development. In these same years, in which the antiquities protection law of 1909 was in preparation, the official archeological authority, the superintendent Paolo Orsi, was carrying on his activity. Also in this period, at Catania, the most important city nearby, attention was paid to the enhancement of archaeological heritage in the context of an overall development project for the city.
SIKELS AND GREEKS IN CENTRAL-EASTERN SICILY: PROTECTION, RESEARCH, INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC IN THE ... more SIKELS AND GREEKS IN CENTRAL-EASTERN SICILY: PROTECTION, RESEARCH, INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC IN THE FIRST THIRTY YEARS OF THE REPUBLICAN STATE - In 1944 L. Bernabò Brea, Soprintendente alle antichità per la Sicilia Orientale, in collaboration with the military autorities conducts surveys to verify the damage of war and regain control on territory: the publication on Notizie degli Scavi constitutes a fine-tuning of the situation for Enna district; several settlements of the Archaic age are taken into consideration. Later, even demanding excavation campaigns are carried out. The research will go on with the pioneering investigations of the 60s with aerial photos and use of helicopter. Several excavations in sites of the Archaic period are conducted both as a result of discoveries in public works and for planned investigations (also with the opening to research groups of different universities). The concept of “minor excavation” (those not related to prestigious Greek and Roman finds) is being overcome, at least on a scientific level; Enna, however, is a marginal area in the territory of the Superindendency, that carries on the scientific and protection action but that is seen as a foreign body, also due to the migration of finds to distant National Museum. In Enna an archaeological collection is in the Museo della Matrice, in Centuripe there is a Civic Museum: both do not belong to the Administration of Antiquities and Fine Arts. Around 1960 in eastern Sicily we can see interesting attempts of museological innovations; we are outside Enna (Ragusa, Lentini, Lipari), but in the same Superintendency. At the same base of this museographic choice there is the role of the visitor as the protagonist of the museum, the will to communicate an archaeology based on stratigraphic data and typological comparison; a museum very distant from the one that starts from collecting. In the same years the Villa of Piazza Armerina is restored: not the removal of the mosaics to be placed in the museum, but the protection with a “glass house” that, as a graphic overlay, suggested volumes without reconstructing them (it is a late antique monument and therefore remains outside our discussion). In 1984 (now outside the period examined here) the start of the museums of Enna and Aidone begins to mark a different relationship with the local community.
Thermal buildings: the patron’s role. The example of Centuripe - In Centuripe there are remains o... more Thermal buildings: the patron’s role. The example of Centuripe - In Centuripe there are remains of several thermal buildings dating back to the imperial age. In particular we can appreciate the remains of two important buildings, which can be compared more to the imperial thermal buildings of Rome than to those found in provincial areas. One of them is next to the forum: pratically a single monumental structure. An iscription seems to mention a third case: it is likely these buildings are not appropriate for local users’ needs, but the patron’s intention was to show his munificentia and the greatness of the city.
Theatrical Masks, Dancers, and Figured Vases: Beliefs on the Afterlife in Hellenistic Centuripe. ... more Theatrical Masks, Dancers, and Figured Vases: Beliefs on the Afterlife in Hellenistic Centuripe. Centuripe’s many theatrical terracottas, tanagra figurines, and Centuripe-ware vessels come, in large part, from Hellenistic tombs. Today, laboratory analysis can help to resolve doubts over the authenticity of particular objects, but the fact remains that, in many cases, precise archaeological provenience is not known. An interconnected symbolic significance between these three types of materials is suggested by their frequent discovery in the same funerary assemblage. Still, very different hypotheses have been put forward regarding this material. The symbolic meaning must obviously reflect the culture to which the objects belong and figurative scenes can also have a real meaning, which further complicates interpretation. We start by drawing a line that begins in Macedonia and reaches west through Taranto and Syracuse. By following this thread, we see that the Orphic beliefs of Magna Graecia were possibly intertwined with the funerary traditions of military elites from Epirus and Macedonia.
Timoleon, according to authorities, issued an appeal for settlers from various parts of the Greek... more Timoleon, according to authorities, issued an appeal for settlers from various parts of the Greek world, in the name of defending hellenism. Let’s take a look at these newcomers, Diodorus stated they were ten thousand; they were not exactly greeks. Ethnic identity was not that significant as a motivational force. Some tombs, from the period immediately following the refoundation in 339/338 B.C., shows an unusual typology; burials of punic type suggest the existence of a group of population conscious of it’s identity whose dead were disposed of in that way.
The Greeks who founded the first colonies in Sicily were not adventure pioneers; They knew the ro... more The Greeks who founded the first colonies in Sicily were not adventure pioneers; They knew the routes of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the ports of the east coast; they had contacts with the interior natives. Archaeological research on the hills around Pergusa’s Lake (the only of inland Sicily) did identify towns. A series of archaeological indicators suggests a developing society; is consolidated the power of warriors, Greek residents or local, connected to the greek element. The chieftain able to hold together a group, due to its ability to guarantee a good booty. Is clear the role of mixed marriages: in these border areas, the greek element is represented by warriors and merchants (not necessarily distinct); women are locals and high-ranking. Greek culture elements were adopted but also adapted, giving rise to a new culture.
La pubblicazione del terzo e del quarto volume dei Quaderni del Museo Civico di Lanuvio prosegue ... more La pubblicazione del terzo e del quarto volume dei Quaderni del Museo Civico di Lanuvio prosegue ed arricchisce il lavoro di ricognizione e di ricerca scientifica su questa importante realtà della nostra Provincia.
Wheat, wine, wool, cheeses, horses. Cities and countryside in central-eastern Sicily between the ... more Wheat, wine, wool, cheeses, horses. Cities and countryside in central-eastern Sicily between the Punic wars and the first empire - For the Sicilian events in the Punic wars it is normal to think of naval battles, the conquest of Syracuse by the consul Marcellus. In the interior of Sicily, in this area of contact, it was a land war; Livy dedicates a lot of space to the events of Enna, Morgantina, Herbessos. The war events led to confiscations and redistributions of land; the phenomenon was not homogeneous: the Enna case was considerably different from Morgantina, the Centuripe case was still different. After the war with Sextus Pompey, the Augustan reorganization of Sicily saw the foundation of coloniae, all in coastal cities; the consequences for the interior layout were considerable. For example Morgantina, who had risen after the damage of the Second Punic War and the repopulation with former Spanish mercenaries, disappeared; and so are other mountain centers. The Catania-Agrigento road is the only one that does not retrace the previous road system; connects Catania, one of the newly established coloniae, with Agrigento, which retains its importance for the imperial age: it is clear that the new artery affects the layout of the territory. Wheat and animal husbandry seem to coexist, sometimes with continuity in a long period of time.
“Libations that the earth drinks”: a sacellum for Demeter and Kore? - A return to an old excavati... more “Libations that the earth drinks”: a sacellum for Demeter and Kore? - A return to an old excavation at Centuripe reinforces the view that the extant remains are not those of a house but of a sacellum of Demeter and Kore. The investigation was a collaboration between the then-Museo Civico of Centuripe and the Soprintendenza per i Beni Culturali e Ambientali of Enna. The remains of three rooms were brought to light. A modern dry-stone terrace wall had protected the surviving portion of the ancient structure, the walls of which are preserved at some points to a maximum height of two meters, with very slight depth below ground. A preliminary report was published; the excavated materials are located in the Museo Archeologico Regionale of Centuripe. At first view the structure closely resembles a house, but pointing to identification as a sacellum are a walled niche and features for sub-soil libations, as well as the presence of female terracotta figures with torch and piglet.
For some time an indigenous figured crater from Calascibetta has been the starting point for disc... more For some time an indigenous figured crater from Calascibetta has been the starting point for discussing the eastern margins of Sikania. The elegant stylization has nothing Greek about it and finds parallels in the area between Caltanissetta and the Lake of Pergusa. This is the same area that will became home to the famous sanctuary of Demeter in Enna. The proposed identification of the cave in the sanctuary of Cozzo Matrice as the spot where the chariot of Hades emerged from the underwold is truly intriguing. The cult of Demeter and Kore is linked to such naturalistic details as the flowers that the maiden was picking at the time of her abduction. Palynological investigations have led to a better reading of the history of plants, such as the olive in relations to the contacts with the Aegean world. It may be worth remembering that the piacentinu cheese may make its appearence with the Branciforte cheesemakers, but it uses the crocus sacred to the goddess. A new development has been initiated, integrating site visits to Cozzo Matrice with the exhibition in the Enna Museum; naturalistc features are emphasized, making possibile links with a variety of others activities.
The lake in the mountains: urban landscapes in the archaic age. From the sixteenth century to ... more The lake in the mountains: urban landscapes in the archaic age. From the sixteenth century to the present, references to the “city of Demeter” and its link to the lake of Pergusa have remained a constant in historiography. Euboean imports into this central area are attested already in the first generation of Greek settlement, during the final thirty years of the eighth century BC: very early on the zone of Chalcidian expansion extended so far into the interior. The lake of Pergusa is the only such body of water in inland Sicily, and so it became one of the most interesting areas for human settlement. Several border sanctuaries shaped a common meeting place, where Greek cults came to be practiced by locals. Under the Deinomenids, Demeter Hennaia was configured as the presiding deity of a Greek city, in this strategic spot between the south-western coast (Gela) and the eastern coast (Syracuse): a place that would be defined as the Sikelias omphalòs/umbilicus Siciliae. Some archaeological indicators suggest a developing society. The power of warriors was being consolidated, either Greeks or local leaders who were connected to the Greek element. The chiefdom model seems the most probable for these agricultural-farming communities. The military leader (chieftain) succeeded in holding together the group, due to his ability to guarantee booty. The role of mixed marriages is clear: in these border areas, the Greek element was represented by warriors and merchants (not necessarily distinct); the women were locals and came from a high social class.
The archaeological investigation carried out during the realization of an access road to the Vill... more The archaeological investigation carried out during the realization of an access road to the Villa has given the opportunity to verify the extent of the medieval town and reconsider the approach to the Villa. The recent excavations improved our knowledge of the monument; in particular, after the discovery of the southern baths, it is clear that the Villa had two bathing complexes, for different users. Allowing the tourists to access the villa through the same route crossed in the fourth century can be a good calling card for the monument: they start with the southern baths (the ones accessible to all) and then, skirting the large storehouses that clarify the productive function of the Villa, enter the three-arched monumental entrance (which, by itself, leaves no doubt about its representative function). We are now beginning to know large parts of the medieval village that followed the villa; therefore, it is advisable to let people visit them as they meet them along the way.
Central Sicily between the Punic Wars and the First Empire. Some remarks - The Punic Wars are fou... more Central Sicily between the Punic Wars and the First Empire. Some remarks - The Punic Wars are fought for control of the Mediterranean. It is normal to think of naval battles, the conquest of Syracuse by the consul Marcellus. In the interior of Sicily, in this area of contact it was a land war; Livius writes at length about the events in Enna, Morgantina, Herbessos: it is certainly not a coincidence. Archeology begins to suggest the possible existence of a commercial flow between the Carthaginian environment and the city of the interior, capable of transforming itself into a military alliance. Cicero already observed that Sicily prima docuit maiores nostros quam praeclarum esset exteris gentibus imperare. And Sicily, with its connections with the whole Mediterranean, lent itself very well to act as a test bed. After the victory at Naulochus gave him absolute control over the West, during the journey of 22/21 BC, Augustus provided for a reorganization of Sicily. Although the coloniae are all in coastal cities, the consequences for the interior layout were considerable.
In 1906 a conference in Centuripe proposed the establishment of an association for the promotion ... more In 1906 a conference in Centuripe proposed the establishment of an association for the promotion of the city's potential for attracting tourists. The economic importance of the new phenomenon of tourism was acknowledged and it was stressed that Centuripe had all the needed credentials in the sector, which could resolve most economic problems. Environment and cultural heritage could become a driving force for the economy. Monuments were seen as a non-renewable economic resource. The association would have had the task of advertising the landscape value of the city's sites and the importance of antiquities. The creation of a museum would have been easy, because of the presence of private collections that could flow into it; the protection of the monuments that were gradually being discovered would have been an investment in development. In these same years, in which the antiquities protection law of 1909 was in preparation, the official archeological authority, the superintendent Paolo Orsi, was carrying on his activity. Also in this period, at Catania, the most important city nearby, attention was paid to the enhancement of archaeological heritage in the context of an overall development project for the city.
SIKELS AND GREEKS IN CENTRAL-EASTERN SICILY: PROTECTION, RESEARCH, INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC IN THE ... more SIKELS AND GREEKS IN CENTRAL-EASTERN SICILY: PROTECTION, RESEARCH, INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC IN THE FIRST THIRTY YEARS OF THE REPUBLICAN STATE - In 1944 L. Bernabò Brea, Soprintendente alle antichità per la Sicilia Orientale, in collaboration with the military autorities conducts surveys to verify the damage of war and regain control on territory: the publication on Notizie degli Scavi constitutes a fine-tuning of the situation for Enna district; several settlements of the Archaic age are taken into consideration. Later, even demanding excavation campaigns are carried out. The research will go on with the pioneering investigations of the 60s with aerial photos and use of helicopter. Several excavations in sites of the Archaic period are conducted both as a result of discoveries in public works and for planned investigations (also with the opening to research groups of different universities). The concept of “minor excavation” (those not related to prestigious Greek and Roman finds) is being overcome, at least on a scientific level; Enna, however, is a marginal area in the territory of the Superindendency, that carries on the scientific and protection action but that is seen as a foreign body, also due to the migration of finds to distant National Museum. In Enna an archaeological collection is in the Museo della Matrice, in Centuripe there is a Civic Museum: both do not belong to the Administration of Antiquities and Fine Arts. Around 1960 in eastern Sicily we can see interesting attempts of museological innovations; we are outside Enna (Ragusa, Lentini, Lipari), but in the same Superintendency. At the same base of this museographic choice there is the role of the visitor as the protagonist of the museum, the will to communicate an archaeology based on stratigraphic data and typological comparison; a museum very distant from the one that starts from collecting. In the same years the Villa of Piazza Armerina is restored: not the removal of the mosaics to be placed in the museum, but the protection with a “glass house” that, as a graphic overlay, suggested volumes without reconstructing them (it is a late antique monument and therefore remains outside our discussion). In 1984 (now outside the period examined here) the start of the museums of Enna and Aidone begins to mark a different relationship with the local community.
Thermal buildings: the patron’s role. The example of Centuripe - In Centuripe there are remains o... more Thermal buildings: the patron’s role. The example of Centuripe - In Centuripe there are remains of several thermal buildings dating back to the imperial age. In particular we can appreciate the remains of two important buildings, which can be compared more to the imperial thermal buildings of Rome than to those found in provincial areas. One of them is next to the forum: pratically a single monumental structure. An iscription seems to mention a third case: it is likely these buildings are not appropriate for local users’ needs, but the patron’s intention was to show his munificentia and the greatness of the city.
Theatrical Masks, Dancers, and Figured Vases: Beliefs on the Afterlife in Hellenistic Centuripe. ... more Theatrical Masks, Dancers, and Figured Vases: Beliefs on the Afterlife in Hellenistic Centuripe. Centuripe’s many theatrical terracottas, tanagra figurines, and Centuripe-ware vessels come, in large part, from Hellenistic tombs. Today, laboratory analysis can help to resolve doubts over the authenticity of particular objects, but the fact remains that, in many cases, precise archaeological provenience is not known. An interconnected symbolic significance between these three types of materials is suggested by their frequent discovery in the same funerary assemblage. Still, very different hypotheses have been put forward regarding this material. The symbolic meaning must obviously reflect the culture to which the objects belong and figurative scenes can also have a real meaning, which further complicates interpretation. We start by drawing a line that begins in Macedonia and reaches west through Taranto and Syracuse. By following this thread, we see that the Orphic beliefs of Magna Graecia were possibly intertwined with the funerary traditions of military elites from Epirus and Macedonia.
Timoleon, according to authorities, issued an appeal for settlers from various parts of the Greek... more Timoleon, according to authorities, issued an appeal for settlers from various parts of the Greek world, in the name of defending hellenism. Let’s take a look at these newcomers, Diodorus stated they were ten thousand; they were not exactly greeks. Ethnic identity was not that significant as a motivational force. Some tombs, from the period immediately following the refoundation in 339/338 B.C., shows an unusual typology; burials of punic type suggest the existence of a group of population conscious of it’s identity whose dead were disposed of in that way.
The Greeks who founded the first colonies in Sicily were not adventure pioneers; They knew the ro... more The Greeks who founded the first colonies in Sicily were not adventure pioneers; They knew the routes of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the ports of the east coast; they had contacts with the interior natives. Archaeological research on the hills around Pergusa’s Lake (the only of inland Sicily) did identify towns. A series of archaeological indicators suggests a developing society; is consolidated the power of warriors, Greek residents or local, connected to the greek element. The chieftain able to hold together a group, due to its ability to guarantee a good booty. Is clear the role of mixed marriages: in these border areas, the greek element is represented by warriors and merchants (not necessarily distinct); women are locals and high-ranking. Greek culture elements were adopted but also adapted, giving rise to a new culture.
per aver reso finanziariamente possibile con il loro contributo la realizzazione del presente vol... more per aver reso finanziariamente possibile con il loro contributo la realizzazione del presente volume 325 ROSARIO P.A. PATANÉ (Museo Regionale Interdisciplinare -Enna) AGIRA: TOPOGRAFIA DELLE NECROPOLI ELLENISTICHE * Nel 339/338 a.C. Timoleonte sconfigge il tyrannos di Agira Apolloniade, deporta in massa gli abitanti a Siracusa e ripopola la città con nuovi abitanti. Diodoro parla di diecimila coloni e dà un elenco di monumenti realizzati nell'occasione: «il più bel teatro di Sicilia dopo quello di Siracusa, templi degli dei, bouleuterion, agorà, un'imponente cinta muraria e monumenti sepolcrali a forma di piramide, molti ed eccellenti per lavoro d'arte» 1 . Si può discutere se la realizzazione di questi monumenti sia stata diluita nel tempo; in ogni caso l'elenco comprende una serie di monumenti che caratterizza una polis: ci troviamo davanti ad una rifondazione. È stata ipotizzata una localizzazione del teatro ( ; resti di mura, con una tecnica che rimanda ad una cronologia compatibile con quella indicata da Diodoro, erano ancora visibili per lo meno alla fine del XVIII secolo 2 .
When reading the accounts of European travellers visiting Sicily during the eighteenth and ninete... more When reading the accounts of European travellers visiting Sicily during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, in search of the roots of classical civilization, a constant is represented by the gusts of fragrance of orange blossom spreading through the ruins of antiquity. Pindar or Plato did not smell any such scent in Sicily. Orange trees and prickly pears did not belong to the Sicilian scenery in the classical age; but that’s another story. History takes place into the environment and changes it to some extent; if the archaeological museum tells a story, a virtual landscape can be part of it. Indeed, it becomes possible to show the transformations of the landscape; more or less recent examples of such settings can give the idea. The land surrounding a monument can be either that of the time of the settlement, or that of the late eighteenth century when the European culture discovers the monument, but also the location of a scene from a movie known to the general public: to privilege one over the others means to make a choice.
Parchi archeologici della Villa del Casale e di Morgantina L'interesse per l'antico da parte dell... more Parchi archeologici della Villa del Casale e di Morgantina L'interesse per l'antico da parte della cultura europea del XVIII secolo coinvolse anche Centuripe: il principe di Biscari vi condusse scavi; la città fu meta di importanti spedizioni scientifiche. Nel 1778 Jean Houel, facendo tesoro delle indicazioni del principe di Biscari, raggiunse Centuripe ed ebbe modo di rilevare i monumenti antichi della città. Lavorò intensamente e il risultato fu una bella cartella di disegni e un pacco di appunti: furono immediatamente disponibili per l'Europa colta. Tiriamo l'attenzione su due tavole del III volume del Voyage Pittoresque di J. Houel, pubblicato a Parigi nel 1784: la tavola CLXII raffigura i grandiosi resti dell'edificio termale di contrada Bagni, appena fuori città. La tavola CLXI raffigura quelli che vengono presentati come resti di una scuderia antica. La bella incisione, con i cavalli davanti alle presunte mangiatoie, ha certo contribuito alla divulgazione dell'ipotesi dell'antica scuderia. Si tratta in realtà di parte di un edificio termale: nicchie di quel tipo sono spesso nell'apodyterium, come scaffalatura in cui riporre i vestiti.
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The proposed identification of the cave in the sanctuary of Cozzo Matrice as the spot where the chariot of Hades emerged from the underwold is truly intriguing. The cult of Demeter and Kore is linked to such naturalistic details as the flowers that the maiden was picking at the time of her abduction. Palynological investigations have led to a better reading of the history of plants, such as the olive in relations to the contacts with the Aegean world. It may be worth remembering that the piacentinu cheese may make its appearence with the Branciforte cheesemakers, but it uses the crocus sacred to the goddess.
A new development has been initiated, integrating site visits to Cozzo Matrice with the exhibition in the Enna Museum; naturalistc features are emphasized, making possibile links with a variety of others activities.
The proposed identification of the cave in the sanctuary of Cozzo Matrice as the spot where the chariot of Hades emerged from the underwold is truly intriguing. The cult of Demeter and Kore is linked to such naturalistic details as the flowers that the maiden was picking at the time of her abduction. Palynological investigations have led to a better reading of the history of plants, such as the olive in relations to the contacts with the Aegean world. It may be worth remembering that the piacentinu cheese may make its appearence with the Branciforte cheesemakers, but it uses the crocus sacred to the goddess.
A new development has been initiated, integrating site visits to Cozzo Matrice with the exhibition in the Enna Museum; naturalistc features are emphasized, making possibile links with a variety of others activities.