Detailed sheets

The Punic temple of semi-columns

The most important and significant evidence of Punic Tharros remaining is the so-called temple of semi-columns” (figs. 1-3).

1
Fig. 1 - Location of the temple of semi-columns (from Google Earth. Review C. Tronchetti)
2
Fig. 2 - The temple of semi-columns seen in the block (photo by Unicity S.p.A.)
3
Fig. 3 - The temple of semi-columns; left, the remains of a Roman structure; top the large cistern (photo by Unicity S.p.A.)

Placed in the central public area of the city, the temple was built using live rock “by taking away”, i.e. Cutting into the rock to shape a rectangular, terraced podium, the long sides and back short side of which are decorated with semi-columns sculpted using the same technique (figs. 4-7).

4
Fig. 4 - The temple of semi-columns (photo by Unicity S.p.A.)
5
Fig. 5 - The temple of semi-columns; details of the relief work on the columns (photo by Unicity S.p.A.)
6
Fig. 6 - The temple of semi-columns; details of the relief work on the columns (photo by Unicity S.p.A.)
7
Fig. 7 - Relief work on the northern side of the temple of the semi-columns (from ACQUARO 1991, page 541)

 

When compared with similar structures in other areas of the Mediterranean, the temple was dated between the 4th and 3rd century B.C., in a period when Tharros reached the peak of its importance. In Roman times, during the 1st century B.C., the top part of the monument was demolished and covered by a limestone flooring, for the erection of a small sacellum.

This led to all the information about the crowning of the podium hewn in the rock to be lost, and the most likely hypothetical reconstruction sees it as the base for the erection of an open-air altar, like the type of holy buildings spread throughout the Semitic world (fig. 8).

8
Fig. 8 - Axonometric reconstruction of the temple of the semi-columns (from PERRA 1998, page 214)


We know for sure, on the other hand, that the front of the temple was decorated with two sandstone lions in the corners, which have only been partly preserved.

9
Fig. 9 - Sandstone lion statue from the temple of semi-columns (photo by Unicity S.p.A.)

 

Bibliografia

  • E. ACQUARO, Tharros tra Fenicia e Cartagine, in Atti del II Congresso Internazionale di Studi Fenici e Punici, Roma 1991, pp. 537-558
  • S. PERRA, L’architettura templare fenicia e punica di Sardegna: il problema delle origini orientali, Oristano 1998, pp. 151-155.
  • G. PESCE, Il tempio punico monumentale a Tharros, in Monumenti Antichi dei Lincei XLV, 1960, coll. 332-440.

Menu