DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4376#0349
EXCAVATIONS ON SEVERAL SITES—BTJDRTJM. 331
were laid bare in the first excavation, and covered
over again immediately, on account of the crops. In
the field to the west I found several portions of the
cornice of a building of the Roman period, lying
close to foundations, which appeared to be those
of an early Byzantine church. (See the Plan.) A
very coarse mosaic pavement was discovered among
these foundations, and a drain underneath it, large
enough to admit a man's body.
The examination of both the fields was necessa-
rily a very partial one, as the ground, being planted
with fruit-trees, could not have been obtained except
at an extravagant price.
On a review of the facts which have been already
stated, I think it probable that a temple of Demeter
stood in the most western of the two fields, on or
near the site of the Byzantine church.
The vaulted foundations in the field of Chiaoux
were probably the substructures of buildings within
the sacred Temenos. We know that such vaults,
called favissce by the ancients, served as magazines,,
in which were deposited statues which had fallen
from temples, and certain other votive offerings;
and thus only can be explained the finding of such
immense numbers of terracotta figures and lamps
within the grouted foundations.1'
h We learn from Gellius, ISToefc. Attic, ii. 10, that Varro, on
being asked by Servius Sulpicius what favissce Capitolince were,
replied, " Cellas quasdam et cisternas, qua? in area sub terra essent;
ubi reponi solerent signa Vetera, quse ex eo templo collapsa essent,
et alia quaedam religiosa e donis consecratis." He add3, " Q.
Valerium Toranum solitum dieere, quos thesauros Graeco nomine
were laid bare in the first excavation, and covered
over again immediately, on account of the crops. In
the field to the west I found several portions of the
cornice of a building of the Roman period, lying
close to foundations, which appeared to be those
of an early Byzantine church. (See the Plan.) A
very coarse mosaic pavement was discovered among
these foundations, and a drain underneath it, large
enough to admit a man's body.
The examination of both the fields was necessa-
rily a very partial one, as the ground, being planted
with fruit-trees, could not have been obtained except
at an extravagant price.
On a review of the facts which have been already
stated, I think it probable that a temple of Demeter
stood in the most western of the two fields, on or
near the site of the Byzantine church.
The vaulted foundations in the field of Chiaoux
were probably the substructures of buildings within
the sacred Temenos. We know that such vaults,
called favissce by the ancients, served as magazines,,
in which were deposited statues which had fallen
from temples, and certain other votive offerings;
and thus only can be explained the finding of such
immense numbers of terracotta figures and lamps
within the grouted foundations.1'
h We learn from Gellius, ISToefc. Attic, ii. 10, that Varro, on
being asked by Servius Sulpicius what favissce Capitolince were,
replied, " Cellas quasdam et cisternas, qua? in area sub terra essent;
ubi reponi solerent signa Vetera, quse ex eo templo collapsa essent,
et alia quaedam religiosa e donis consecratis." He add3, " Q.
Valerium Toranum solitum dieere, quos thesauros Graeco nomine