While the continuous urban transformations and the superimposition of two later cities on the original site of Sybaris have made it difficult to identify many direct traces of its period of greatest splendor, it is thanks to the sanctuary of Timpone Motta, located near Francavilla Marittima, that we can today reconstruct an important part of its history. Situated on a hill a few kilometers from the city, this place of worship, dedicated to Athena—the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, and protectress of cities—was frequented from the very earliest phases of the foundation of Sybaris.
Archaeological excavations carried out in the sanctuary area have yielded an exceptionally rich assemblage of votive offerings, providing tangible evidence of the inhabitants’ devotion and of the wealth attained
... read more >While the continuous urban transformations and the superimposition of two later cities on the original site of Sybaris have made it difficult to identify many direct traces of its period of greatest splendor, it is thanks to the sanctuary of Timpone Motta, located near Francavilla Marittima, that we can today reconstruct an important part of its history. Situated on a hill a few kilometers from the city, this place of worship, dedicated to Athena—the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, and protectress of cities—was frequented from the very earliest phases of the foundation of Sybaris.
Archaeological excavations carried out in the sanctuary area have yielded an exceptionally rich assemblage of votive offerings, providing tangible evidence of the inhabitants’ devotion and of the wealth attained by the Achaean colony. Among the gifts offered to the goddess are refined imported Greek ceramics, worked bronzes, votive figurines, and other valuable objects. Particularly significant is the discovery of a bronze plaque bearing a Greek inscription, probably part of a precious object dedicated to celebrate a victory at the Olympic Games—an event that linked religious prestige with athletic and cultural renown.
The sanctuary of Timpone Motta thus represents not only one of the most important religious centers of Magna Graecia, but also a valuable historical source, capable of shedding light on the religious, social, and political life of the powerful city of Sybaris at the height of its prosperity.
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