Unique
Discovery at Histria: a sacred pit (bothros) assigned to God Apollo IATROS
(The Healer), eponymous deity of the ancient city
The
pit during the removal of filling archaeological material
Overview
of the basilica,
where the sacred pit (bothros) was discovered
where the sacred pit (bothros) was discovered
The
archaeological site of Histria
Sector: Florescu Basilica
Campaign: July 2003
During the archaeological excavations begun in 2002 at the Florescu basilica, in the main E-W section, S1, practised along the entire basilica, in the area between the crypt and apse wall a complex - pit (bothros) - was discovered, dated earlier to the moment when the basilica was set in, partially overlapping other structures likely to be dated later. The archaeological material collected from this complex lead, at least for the time being, to the idea that we deal with a sacred pit (bothros), assigned to Apollo IATROS, eponymous deity of Histria. In the present stage of researches one cannot specify the exact function of the complex in question, or whether it used to stand near a place of worship or independently of a such a location.
The possible assignment is justified by the identification, among the other material, of Roman pottery, tiles, bricks, bone fragments, a pottery fragment - amphora - with grafitto mentioning the epithet of IATRO[S] (The Healer).
As far as future researches will allow us to clear up the working hypotheses formulated within the researches, the discoveries from this last archaeological campaign gain a special importance for deciphering some aspects of the religious life at Histria, in order to make out the issues surrounding the temple of Apollo IATROS, as well as the evolution of this cult during the Roman period.
Sector: Florescu Basilica
Campaign: July 2003
During the archaeological excavations begun in 2002 at the Florescu basilica, in the main E-W section, S1, practised along the entire basilica, in the area between the crypt and apse wall a complex - pit (bothros) - was discovered, dated earlier to the moment when the basilica was set in, partially overlapping other structures likely to be dated later. The archaeological material collected from this complex lead, at least for the time being, to the idea that we deal with a sacred pit (bothros), assigned to Apollo IATROS, eponymous deity of Histria. In the present stage of researches one cannot specify the exact function of the complex in question, or whether it used to stand near a place of worship or independently of a such a location.
The possible assignment is justified by the identification, among the other material, of Roman pottery, tiles, bricks, bone fragments, a pottery fragment - amphora - with grafitto mentioning the epithet of IATRO[S] (The Healer).
As far as future researches will allow us to clear up the working hypotheses formulated within the researches, the discoveries from this last archaeological campaign gain a special importance for deciphering some aspects of the religious life at Histria, in order to make out the issues surrounding the temple of Apollo IATROS, as well as the evolution of this cult during the Roman period.
Irina Achim,
"Vasile Parvan" Institute of Archaeology, Bucharest, 21st of
August 2003
Emptied
pit, in situ pottery
Histria
on site www.cimec.ro:
Archaeological site of Histria
Les
vases archaïques d'Histria par Marcelle F. Lambrino
Festive Session
"Histria - 85 Years of Archaeological Researches"