Standing in the shadows of Iuppiter Anxur. Terracina and its Sanctuary in the Hellenistic Period

• Applicant: Dr. Paul Scheding
• Subject Area: Classical, Roman, Christian and Islamic Archaeology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 468966467

The aim of the project is to evaluate the architectural development and transformation of the sanctuary of Terracina in the Hellenistic period. The ancient city of Tarracina, located at the via Appia between Rome and Naples, was one of the most important port cities in southern Latium; since 329 BCE it was a maritime colony of Rome. Despite its tremendous archaeology and architecture for Central Italy in the Hellenistic period the sanctuary was not part of archaeological excavation over more than 100 years. Until today, it lacks a comprehensive publication of the Hellenistic sanctuary of Terracina. The project is divided into two parts: The first part is dedicated to the archaeological excavation and the architectural survey of the building complex of Monte Sant’Angelo. The field work take place in the areas of the so-called campo trincerato and the defence wall to investigated their function, transformation and date of origin. The building research is accompanied by retrieving samples of mortar and a digital elevation model of the mountain and its grottos. Together with the results other areas of the sanctuary the result of the archaeological excavation and the architectural survey will be published.The second part of the project aims to analyse the results of the field work in the sanctuary in its local, regional an “global” context and to publish the results. This part is subdivided into three single investigations which are highly interconnected. Their conjunctive question is to discuss the new architectural features in Terracina and its sanctuary as part of the tremendous cultural changes in Italy in the Hellenistic period. The first investigation is dedicated to the building techniques in the city of Terracina and the local area of the palude pontine. Based on the result of the architectural survey and the samples of mortar in Terracina the study aims to create a reference point for dating wall and building techniques in this region. The second investigation tries to understand how the architecture of open plazas in Latium changed during the Hellenistic period. This is to study the development and differences of the city fora and the open spaces in sanctuaries. The third investigation aims to analyse the local elite of Terracina and Central Italy as merchants in the Mediterranean. This is to understand the “global” trade networks as key element of cultural exchange and architectural innovation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Italy
• Co-Investigators: Professor Dr.-Ing. Alexander von Kienlin; Dr.-Ing. Peter Wasmeier
• Cooperation Partners: Dr. Ilaria Bruni; Professor Dr. Ortwin Dally