Ras il-Wardija sanctuary revisited : : a re-assessment of the evidence and newly-informed interpretations of a Punic-Roman sanctuary in Gozo (Malta) / / George Azzopardi.

• VerfasserIn: Azzopardi, George,
• Place / Publishing House: Oxford, England : : Archaeopress,, [2017]; ©2017
• Year of Publication: 2017
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (95 pages)

This book reassesses the evidence of a secluded Punic-Roman sanctuary on the coastal promontory of Ras il-Wardija on the central Mediterranean island of Gozo (near Malta).

Table of Contents

Cover -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of Figures -- Preface -- Chapter 1 -- 1.1 - Introducing the sanctuary site at Ras il-Wardija -- 1.2 - History of research and existing literature -- 1.3 - Objectives, aims, approach, and method of this study -- 1.4 - Background to the Maltese islands: a brief historical profile -- Figure 1. Map of the Maltese islands. It shows the location of Ras il-Wardija on the island of Gozo and other relevant sites on both islands. (After www.geocities.ws/maltashells/NatHist.html). -- Figure 2. Table of Maltese chronology. -- Chapter 2 -- 2.1 - Ras il-Wardija and its regional context: geographical extent and topography -- 2.2 - Continuous human presence and occupation -- 2.3 - Maritime connections and related activities -- 2.4 - Seeking divine protection at sea -- Figure 3. Clay statuette head. The head (Max. Height: 8 cm) is alleged to have been found in a cistern at Tar-Rokon, in San Lawrenz, Gozo. It is now kept at the Gozo Museum of Archaeology. (Photo: The author). -- Figure 4. Stem of oinochoe (left) and a complete example (right). The stem (Max. Height: 7 cm) was found in the back-garden of a private residence in Triq il-Wileġ, San Lawrenz, Gozo. Now kept at the Gozo Museum of Archaeology. (Left photo: The author -- S -- Figure 5. Aerial view of Ras il-Wardija sanctuary. The sanctuary is arrowed in the foreground while Xlendi is slightly visible to the right in the background. Photo taken in 1974. (Photograph © NAG-National Archives Gozo). -- Figure 6. Another view of Ras il-Wardija sanctuary from the air. The sanctuary is arrowed in the foreground while Dwejra inlet is visible in the background. (Photo: The author).

Figure 7. Lead anchor stock from Xlendi. The stock carries astragal representation on each of its arms testifying to mariners' fears and their superstitious beliefs. The set of astragals on the right is enlarged inset. The stock is on display at the Gozo -- Figure 8. A c. third to first-century BC Greek terracotta mask of Dionysos (left) and a convex ceramic object with relief globules on its outer surface (right). The latter (Max. Height: 19.5 cm) was retrieved from the seabed at the mouth of Xlendi Bay and -- Figure 9. Women engaged in ritual activity around a Dionysos mask mounted on a pole. The pole is also adorned with garments and other paraphernalia symbolic of Dionysos. Shown on an Athenian red-figure stamnos by the Villa Giulia Painter, c. 450 BC. Heigh -- Figure 11. Fatima's hand mounted on a pole on a modern Egyptian boat. This modern practice seems to carry forward the tradition of mounting standards with symbols on poles on sea vessels. (Source: shari-chocolatebox.blogspot.com/2011/02/fatimas-protectio -- Chapter 3 -- 3.1 - The toponym 'Ras il-Wardija' -- 3.2 - Origins and development of the sanctuary complex -- 3.3 - Relationship between the sanctuary and the physical form of the landscape -- 3.4 - Visual domination of the seascape -- 3.5 - The temple building on the first terrace -- 3.6 - The cave and ancillary features on the fifth terrace -- 3.7 - Sacrality of doors: doorways with offering holes or other sacred features -- 3.8 - Stone worship -- 3.9 - Possible mysteries and the enigmatic cruciform and 'flying' figures -- 3.10 - Regulating relations through ritual -- Figure 12. Location map of Ras il-Wardija. The sanctuary's eight terraces are numbered I-VIII on the promontory. (Source: MISSIONE 1964: Fig. 11).

Figure 13. Ras il-Wardija promontory's sloping profile. The slope is viewed uphill from the first terrace towards the rock-cut cave on the fifth terrace. The temple remains on the first terrace can be seen in the foreground. (Photo: The author). -- Figure 14. Ras ir-Raħeb promontory (in Malta) from the air. To create a symbolic link between the land and the sea, a temple structure (arrowed) was purposely positioned on the prominent and conspicuous promontory. (Photograph © Daniel Cilia). -- Figure 15. Ras il-Wardija dominating the seascape. The promontory's dominant position provides it with a view of the open sea for miles around. (Photo: The author). -- Figure 16. Ras il-Wardija viewed from Ras ir-Raħeb (in Malta) across the channel. The two sanctuaries on the respective promontories enjoyed a visual link. (Photo: The author). -- Figure 17. Plan of the temple remains. These are to be found on the first terrace of the sanctuary complex. Level readings are given in metres at various points on the plan. (After MISSIONE 1967: Fig. 9). -- Figure 18. The so-called 'archaic temple' on Capo San Marco, Sardegna. (Photo: The author). -- Figure 19. The small Punic temple on the isolotto di Su Cardolinu at Chia (ancient Bithia), Sardegna. (Photo: The author). -- Figure 20. Plan of the rock-cut cave. The cave is to be found on the fifth terrace and has an internal U-shaped bench. Different levels are given in metres at various points on the plan. (After MISSIONE 1965: Fig. 8). -- Figure 21. Niche 5 inside the rock-cut cave. A cruciform figure was centrally carved on the niche's internal wall. Two side-cuts that may have accommodated a shelf beneath the cruciform figure are also visible. (Source: MISSIONE 1964: Plate 75(1)).

Figure 22. Figure in 'flying' attitude. It was carved on wall A, between niches 1 and 2 inside the rock-cut cave. (Source: MISSIONE 1965: Plate 83(1)). -- Figure 23. Small cruciform figure (arrowed) shown on top of a 'flying'(?) figure. It was carved on wall C, on the left side of niche 5 inside the rock-cut cave. (Source: MISSIONE 1965: Plate 83(2)). -- Figure 24. General plan of the rock-cut cave in relation to the external features on the fifth terrace. (After Buhagiar 2014: 318(Plate 19) -- MISSIONE 1965: Fig. 8). -- Figure 25. Marks of stone extraction on the third terrace. (Source: MISSIONE 1966: Plate 61(2)). -- Figure 26. The banqueting hall of the Dionysiac cowherds (boukoloi) at Pergamon, in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). The interior of this hall was divided into two facing banqueting rooms, each equipped with U-shaped benches or couches. (Source: Ascough, Harla -- Figure 27. The rock-cut benches / couches running parallel to the cave's facade. The U-shaped arrangement of the two facing spaces may have formed an extension (inside a roofed structure) to the U-shaped arrangement inside the cave. The arrangement also l -- Figure 29. A banqueting scene inside the cave. An artist's impression. (Drawing: Joseph Calleja). -- Figure 30. An extension to the 'bench' and 'pavement' at the passage's point of intersection in front of the cave. This was done by inserting two perpendicular stones along two edges of a rock-cut offering table. (Source: MISSIONE 1965: Plate 91(2)). -- Figure 31. Offering table and an intriguing sign (enlarged inset). The offering table was situated at the southernmost extent of the passage outside the cave. The intriguing sign was engraved very close to it and may have been associated with offerings. (.

Figure 32. The sign at the Punic tophet of Sant' Antioco, in Sardegna. It is engraved on a high rock outcrop at the said tophet and is similar to the one from Ras il-Wardija shown in Figure 31. (Source: pierluigimontalbano.blogspot.com.mt/2015/04/archeolo -- Figure 33. The rock-cut basin or pool on the fifth terrace. (Source: MISSIONE 1966: Plate 58(2)). -- Figure 34. The rock-cut water cistern on the fifth terrace. (Photo: The author). -- Figure 35. Stone trough found in the rock-cut basin or pool. It was one of eleven small stone troughs retrieved from the muddy infill of the said basin or pool and which are now kept in storage at the Gozo Museum of Archaeology. (Photo: The author). -- Figure 36. Stone pyramidal 'cippus' or betyl. Assuming the shape of a pyramid, it stands on a base or pedestal as if to highlight the pyramid's significance. It is kept in storage at the Gozo Museum of Archaeology. (Photo: The author). -- Figure 37. Plan of the temple on the first terrace showing the findspot (encircled) of the pyramidal 'cippus' or betyl. The latter was found between the external wall of the temple and the presumed temenos wall, near the temple's entrance and the offering -- Figure 38. Pyramidal betyl claimed to represent Tanit. It was found in the small 'archaic temple' on Capo San Marco, Sardegna. (Source: Pesce 2000: 220(Fig. 85)). -- Figure 39. Pyramidal betyl from the southern necropolis at Tharros, Sardegna. It is on display at the Archaeological Museum of Cabras, Sardegna. (Photo: The author). -- Figure 40. The pyramidal betyl as it might have looked inside the temple on the first terrace. An artist's impression with a cut-out view showing the interior. The betyl might have stood on a plinth, facing the temple's entrance and the offering table bey.

Figure 41. A small stone 'column' betyl with a spiral rendering. It was found deposited above the offering table and within the basin created with the insertion of two stones around the same offering table at the passage intersection in front of the cave.