DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61617#0181
THE DORIC TEMPLE
133
Directly in front of the temple, at the foot of the steps, we
find a monument of an altogether unusual character. The
respect with which it was regarded is evidenced by its location
in the place ordinarily occupied by the principal altar. It con-
sists of a small enclosure of peculiar shape, fenced in by an
outer wall and a low inner wall. To judge from its form, it
must have been a place of burial; we shall find a tomb later the
plan of which is quite similar (Plan V, right side, 2), and it is
said that human bones were found here. These walls are not
earlier than the imperial period, but they must have taken the
place of an older structure; for the altars were evidently put
over near the east corner of the temple (6 on the plan), because
the place which they would naturally have had was already occu-
pied. For a time — how long it would be idle to conjecture —
this was beyond doubt the most important temple of the city;
the placing of the tomb in the most sacred spot in front of it
suggests that the founder or founders of the city may have been
buried here, and afterwards revered as heroes.
Instead of a single altar in front of the temple there are three,
all made of blocks of tufa, two of them resting on a single foun-
dation ; the third is built on the ground without a foundation,
and is of later date. One altar is larger than the other two, and
its surface is divided into three parts.
Not far from the altars are the remains of a small round
structure (7 on the plan, shown in Fig. 56) about twelve feet
in diameter. The roof, supported by eight Doric columns, was
over the mouth of a well, which had been driven down through
the old lava bed till living water was found for cleaning the tem-
ple and for religious rites. According to the Oscan inscription
on the architrave the well house was built by N. Trebius, chief
administrative officer {meddix tuticus') of the city.
It is impossible to determine what divinities were worshipped
here. The placing of two altars together, one being divided
into three parts, and the addition of a third, seem to imply that
three divinities received worship in common, and that besides
these two other gods were honored in this sanctuary. The terra
cotta deer furnishes a clew, but is not decisive evidence; deer
were sacred to several divinities, among others to Apollo and
133
Directly in front of the temple, at the foot of the steps, we
find a monument of an altogether unusual character. The
respect with which it was regarded is evidenced by its location
in the place ordinarily occupied by the principal altar. It con-
sists of a small enclosure of peculiar shape, fenced in by an
outer wall and a low inner wall. To judge from its form, it
must have been a place of burial; we shall find a tomb later the
plan of which is quite similar (Plan V, right side, 2), and it is
said that human bones were found here. These walls are not
earlier than the imperial period, but they must have taken the
place of an older structure; for the altars were evidently put
over near the east corner of the temple (6 on the plan), because
the place which they would naturally have had was already occu-
pied. For a time — how long it would be idle to conjecture —
this was beyond doubt the most important temple of the city;
the placing of the tomb in the most sacred spot in front of it
suggests that the founder or founders of the city may have been
buried here, and afterwards revered as heroes.
Instead of a single altar in front of the temple there are three,
all made of blocks of tufa, two of them resting on a single foun-
dation ; the third is built on the ground without a foundation,
and is of later date. One altar is larger than the other two, and
its surface is divided into three parts.
Not far from the altars are the remains of a small round
structure (7 on the plan, shown in Fig. 56) about twelve feet
in diameter. The roof, supported by eight Doric columns, was
over the mouth of a well, which had been driven down through
the old lava bed till living water was found for cleaning the tem-
ple and for religious rites. According to the Oscan inscription
on the architrave the well house was built by N. Trebius, chief
administrative officer {meddix tuticus') of the city.
It is impossible to determine what divinities were worshipped
here. The placing of two altars together, one being divided
into three parts, and the addition of a third, seem to imply that
three divinities received worship in common, and that besides
these two other gods were honored in this sanctuary. The terra
cotta deer furnishes a clew, but is not decisive evidence; deer
were sacred to several divinities, among others to Apollo and