Book Series MediTo - Archaeological and Historical Landscapes of Mediterranean Central Italy, vol. 5

Sacred Landscapes in Central Italy

Votive Deposits and Sanctuaries (400 BC – AD 400)

Fabiana Fabbri, Alessandro Sebastiani (eds)

  • Pages: approx. 431 p.
  • Size:216 x 280 mm
  • Illustrations:88 b/w, 127 col.
  • Language(s):English
  • Publication Year:2025


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  • € 150,00 EXCL. VAT RETAIL PRICE
  • ISBN: 978-2-503-61366-6
  • Paperback
  • Forthcoming (Mar/25)

Forthcoming
  • € 150,00 EXCL. VAT RETAIL PRICE


The volume presents a rich exploration of sacred sites, rituals, and ex-votos in Central Italy for the Etruscan and Roman periods.

BIO

Alessandro Sebastiani is Associate Professor of Roman Archaeology at the Department of Classics at the University at Buffalo. He directs the IMPERO (Interconnected Mobility of People and Economy along the River Ombrone) Project since 2017.

Fabiana Fabbri specialized in Classical Archaeology at the University of Florence and is part of the research team of the IMPERO Project. Her research focuses on Republican ex-votos and Roman pottery.

Summary

Veneration of the supernatural was, in ancient times, interwoven into the fabric of the surrounding landscape. Caves, rivers, lakes, mountains, and water springs all formed conduits for a relationship between divinity and nature, and sanctuaries were established as dedicated sites of worship. Taking Central Italy as its main focus, this volume unravels layers of history and archaeology in order to shed light on the religious practices, sacred sites, and profound connections that have long existed between landscapes and religious places in this region. Through a synthesis of archaeological evidence and scholarly analysis, the chapters gathered here unveil the significance of temples, sanctuaries, ex-votos, religious productions, and ritual spaces, and provide a comprehensive understanding of how Etruscan and Roman societies engaged with their sacred surroundings. The result is an important reassessment of the religious dimensions that helped to shape the antique landscape of Central Italy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Illustrations

1. Introduction
Fabiana Fabbri and Alessandro Sebastiani

Section I – Votive Deposits

2. The Votive Deposit of Pantanacci
Luca Attenni, Agnese Livia Fischetti, and Giuseppe Granata
3. A Dripstone or Votive Offering in the Shape of a Naval Prow from the area of the Sanctuary of Juno Sospita
Luca Attenni
4. The Votive Deposit of Podere Cannicci (Civitella Paganico – Grosseto)
Fabiana Fabbri
5. Cults and Votive Deposits in the Middle Valley of the Fiora River
Debora Rossi
6. The Sacred Landscape of Torraccia di Chiusi at San Gimignano between the Etruscans and the Romans
Jacopo Tabolli and Enrico Maria Giuffrè
7. Multum in Parvo: Miniature Votives, Artisans, and Ritual at Cetamura del Chianti
Laurel Taylor
8. Places of Worship and Votive Offerings in Roselle
Andrea Zifferero

Section II – Sanctuaries

9. The Sanctuary of the Acropolis of Volterra. A Place of worship through the Centuries
Marisa Bonamici and Emanuele Taccola
10. The Sacred Places of Blera and its Territory
Francesca Ceci and Paola Di Silvio
11. The Sanctuary at Talamonaccio
Elena Chirico
12. The Sanctuary of the Etruscan Artisans at Cetamura del Chianti
Nancy T. de Grummond
13. The Sanctuary of Monte Li Santi-Le Rote, Narce (Mazzano Romano – Calcata). Landscape and Cult Transformations of a Religious Complex from its Origins to Romanization
Maria Anna De Lucia Brolli
14. Campetti, Veii – South-West Area
Ugo Fusco
15. A Sacred Landscape on the Shores of Lake Bolsena. New Discoveries from the Etruscan-Roman Sanctuary of Piana del Lago (2020-2022)
Martin Jaillet and Edwige Lovergne
16. Pyrgi’s Sanctuary after Dionysus of Syracuse's raid (384 BC). Votive Deposits, Rituals, Cults, and the Fruition of the Sacred Place
Laura Maria Michetti and Barbara Belelli Marchesini
17. Back to Scoglietto: The Sanctuary of Diana Umbronensis
Alessandro Sebastiani
18. The Campo della Fiera at Orvieto: The Fanum Voltumnae
Simonetta Stopponi
19. Unlocking the Roman Sacred Landscape at San Casciano dei Bagni
Jacopo Tabolli and Emanuele Mariotti

Section III – Producing for the Sacred

20. The Pottery Workshop in Campo della Fiera, Orvieto
Marco Cruciani
21. The Production of Black-Gloss Ware for Sacred Areas Between Demons and Gods
Helga di Giuseppe
22. The Production of Votives in Lavinium
Alessandro M. Jaia

Section IV – Reflective essays

23. Waterscapes in Roman Times. Sacredness of Springs and their Influence on Sanctuaries
Fabiana Fabbri
24. A Domestic Cult. The Votive Bronze Statuettes from the Domus of the Dolia at Vetulonia
Simona Rafanelli
25. A Liquid Goddess. Artumes/Diana in Etruria and the Construction of Landscapes in Southern Tuscany
Edoardo Vanni