Description
Book SynopsisHercules’ Sanctuary in the Quarter of St. Theodore in Pula deals with many aspects of the Roman sanctuary erected at the spring in Pula as well as with objects of cult dated to the Hellenistic period. The site was in use from the late fourth century BC to the fall of the Western Roman Empire, a date that approximately coincides with the demolition of the temple. Research focuses on Roman foundations which trace the ground plan of the temple that was surrounded by portico. Architectural fragments found at the site, as well as those kept in the collection of Pula Museum, were used to form proposals for a hypothetical reconstruction of the temple. The discovery of a relief club is the only reliable link with a particular deity i.e. Hercules. The continuity of the cult of Hercules has been recognised at the spring from the Histrian to Roman periods. Hercules was considered a founder and patron of the Roman colony of Pola. Nearness of the assumed umbilicus of the colony offers additional reasons to reconsider sacred rituals of the foundation of the colony. Traces of ritual desacralization, purification and storing of sacrificial remnants could be recognised at the site. A hypothetical reconstruction of the Roman sanctuary is followed by calculations of construction costs.
Trade Review'Parliamo di un bel volume, agile, molto ben illustrato, che analizza uno scavo molto complesso (e molto fortunato!) effettuato tra 2005 e 2009 presso le mura urbiche nella zona nordorientale della colonia romana di Pola... Dal medesimo scavo Alka Starac ha ricavato più di una dozzina di studi relativi a diversi argomenti (urbanistica, sistema fognario, vicende dell'area in età tardoantica, analisi del complesso delle anfore etc.) a dimostrazione di quanto si possa apprendere se si vuole veramente approfondire quanto lo scavo porta alla luce. Questo bel libro, dunque, offre non solo importanti novità anche per la storia dell'arte romana, ma anche un concreto esempio di edizione scientifica dei risultati dell'indagine archeologica. Il che non è affatto poco. —
Maurizio Buora, HistaraTable of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction ;
Chapter 2: The Late Republican sanctuary – The Hercules sanctuary area before the foundation of the Roman colony ;
Chapter 3: Hercules, hero and protector of the source – Sacrificial offerings at the time of the construction of the sanctuary ;
Chapter 4: Plan of the sanctuary of Hercules – Models and interpretation ;
Chapter 5: Architectural decoration ;
Introduction ;
I. Architectural elements found in the archaeological excavations in the St Theodore Quarter in Kandler street (Block XVI, Location XI) 2005-2009 ;
II. Architectural elements from the Roman collection of the Archaeological Museum of Istria found before 2005 ;
Chapter 6: Construction of Hercules’ sanctuary – Economical aspects, import of amphorae and senatorial dynasties ;
Bibliography
