Fanum Voltumnae
The Fanum Voltumnae (‘
Roman historian
That the Fanum was somewhere in central Italy in the area between Orvieto and Viterbo is probable enough, but as Livy gave no clue to its locality, and as no inscriptions have thrown light on the subject, at the current time it can be but pure conjecture to assign to it this or that particular site.Hypotheses
Orvieto
The most credited hypothesis places the shrine in Orvieto.
In September 2006, Simonetta Stopponi, professor of Italic
"It has all the characteristics of a very important shrine, and of that shrine in particular" she said.Listing some of those characteristics, she mentioned "the scale of the construction, its intricate structure and layout, the presence of wells and fountains and the central temple building".
Structures of various periods have been identified, distributed over a very large area (a retaining wall in polygonal masonry, a paved street, etc.), and many fragments of architectural
In November 2014, archaeologist Simonetta Stopponi announced finding a polychrome terracotta male head of an Etruscan god in the area of Orvieto. "The head is very nice and well kept," said Stopponi, "An important discovery as well as that of the temple" that measures 12 by 18 metres (39 ft × 59 ft). A main temple and a sacred way have also been excavated.[8]
Bagnoregio
Some modern scholars have hypothesized that the location of Fanum Voltumnae was at Bagnoregio (probably on the hill of Civita di Bagnoregio), past possession of Orvieto and Etruscan walled town.[9]
Tuscania
Before the discoveries in the Orvieto area, the archaeological site of Guado Cinto, a necropolis including the Tomb of the Queen near Tuscania, was one of the most credited locations of Fanum Voltumnae.
Viterbo
This hypothesis, presented in the 1950s by
Viterbo's heraldic badges are surrounded by the letters FAVL (read as FAUL), which appear like a ciphered globe. It is unclear what they refer to, but some claim that they are the initials of the guardian towns and some others that they are in reference to the initial
Montefiascone
Latera
In spring 1988, news was published that Fanum Voltumnae was at last discovered on the volcanic ridge of Lake Bolsena.[10] The hill (633 m a.s.l.), known as Poggio Evangelista (commune of Latera), retains the ruins of a temple, visibly located on a strategic place, with a wide view over Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany (Berlingo and Timperi, 1995). It is likely a sacred Etruscan place of worship dating back to the 6th – 4th centuries BC.
Valentano
In 1976 and 1977, Danish excavations were carried out at Monte Becco (at 556 m a.s.l.), in the area of Valentano, near to the Lake Mezzano (ancient Lacus Statoniensis).[11] Traces of the Etruscan presence, including walls, bronze tools, and roof tiles were found during the study mission. One of the tiles was found to be incised with all the characters of the Etruscan alphabet. This site has been also indicated as one of the possible locations of the Fanum.
Bolsena
This hypothesis is supported by Angelo Timperi, inspector and archeologist of Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici dell'Etruria Meridionale, with roles and responsibilities for the eastern side of Lake Bolsena and the archaeological area of Poggio Moscini in
San Lorenzo Nuovo
Another hypothesis
We – Emperor Caesar
Flavius Constantine Maximus Germanicus Sarmaticus Maximus Gothicus Victor Triumphator Augustus and [his sons] Flavius Constantine and Flavius Julius Constantius and Flavius Constans– encompass with our untiring attention and care everything, indeed, that benefits human society; but this is the greatest task for our forethought: that all the cities whose splendid appearance and beauty distinguish them in the eyes of all provinces and of all regions not only shall keep their former dignity, but also shall be promoted to a still greater esteem by the grant of our Beneficence.Since, indeed, you aver that you have been annexed to Tuscia in such a way that by the established practice of ancient custom priests are created every other year in turn by you and by the aforesaid people of Tuscia, who exhibit stage plays and a gladiatorial show at Volsinii, a city of Tuscia; but that, because of the steepness of the mountains and the difficulties of the paths through the forests thither, you most earnestly request that permission shall be granted to your priest to abandon the necessity of going to Volsinii to celebrate the exhibition; and that we shall give a name from our
Flaminian Wayand in which a temple of the Flavian Family is being built, of truly magnificent workmanship worthy of the greatness of its name; and that there that priest, whom Umbria selects annually, shall exhibit a festival of both stage plays and gladiatorial shows; and that this custom shall remain as regards Tuscia: that the priest created at Volsinii shall celebrate, as has been his wont, the observation of the aforesaid exhibitions at that place: our assent is gladly granted to your prayer and desire.For from our own name we vouchsafe to the community of Hispellum an eternal designation, an appellation to be venerated, so that hereafter the aforesaid city shall be called Flavia Constans; and in its center we wish, as you desire, the temple of our Flavian Family to be completed of magnificent workmanship, but with this regulation added: that no temple dedicated in our name shall be defiled by the deceptions of any contagious and unreasonable religious belief; and so we also permit you to stage exhibitions in the aforesaid community, although in such manner that, as has been said, the celebration of Volsinii also shall not fall into disuse through the ages, but that there the aforesaid celebration also must be staged by priests chosen from Tuscia.
Thus, indeed, it will not appear that our actions especially derogate anything from old customs; and you, who are suppliants to us for the aforesaid causes, will rejoice that you have gained those things for which you have earnestly asked.
This is the first document that allows one to situate the Fanum at Volsinii – or at least in the Volsiniese territory. It is said in the document that the annual Etruscan feast (concilium principum Etruriae) was celebrated near Volsinios, including games and combats of
Bisentina island
Within Lake Bolsena, the Bisentina island (commune of Capodimonte) is also regarded as a sacred isle of the Etruscans, possible site for the Fanum, and gate to the underground world of Agharti. A sanctuary located on an island not situated at the sea would have been accessible to priests and kings of the 12 cities (with their closest entourages), their protection being granted during the religious and political meetings by a handful of armed men. An Italian television program Voyager (1 October 2003) supported this hypothesis, suggesting for the Etruscans a parallelism to the
Indeed, not only the Incas but, for the same reasons, various peoples have decided to erect their most eminent sanctuary on sacred islands: the
Pitigliano
In Geografia sacra, Giovanni Feo presents his studies
Farnese
In the commune of
, which testify of the culture of the Etruscans.Tarquinia
According to Alberto Palmucci,
In the archaeological museum of Tarquinia is an Etruscan vessel (early seventh century BC) with a dedication to the god Vertun (Latin: Vertumnus, Voltumna). It comes from the nearly Etruscan cemetery.
References
- ^ Cf. temenos.
- ^ Livy, Ab Urbe condita, IV, 23, 25, 61; V, 17, VI, 2. The events are referred, respectively to the years 434, 433, 405, 397 and 389 BCE.
- ^ "L'Etruria ed il Fanum Voltumnae". Alta Tuscia, Terra Antica (in Italian). 5 July 2010. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
- ^ Vetralla Pictures (6 September 2007). "Fanum Voltumnae?". YouTube. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ Francesco Scanagatta, "Orvieto: emerge dagli scavi il Fanum Voltumnae" (in Italian) 22 August 2007.
- ^ David Willey, Ancient world treasure unearthed. 4 October 2007 bbc.co.uk (Stopponi, also spelled Stoppani)
- ^ Fanum Voltumnae: Parliament of the Etruscan League. World Archaeology 2007 Issue 26
- ^ "Trovata a Orvieto la testa del Dio degli Etruschi" [The head of the Etruscan god found in Orvieto]. Adnkronos (in Italian). 20 November 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ "Ritrovamenti Etruschi a Bagnoregio".
- ^ "Voltumnia: alla ricerca del tempio perduto : Fronte della comunicazione". Stampalternativa.it (in Italian). 4 March 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ Ridgway, 1979–1980
- ^ Timperi, 2010
- ^ Pelosi and Fortunati, 1998
- ^ Corriere di Viterbo, 6 September 2006
- ^ Coarelli, 2001.
- ^ Il Rescritto di Costantinoin favore di Spello Archived 12 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine (Original Latin & translation in Italian)
- Zonaras, Epitome storica, 8, 7, 4–8
- ^ Francesco Barbano, Scavi archeologici nell'alta Tuscia, Il Messaggero, 11 October 2007
- ^ "Fanum Voltumnae a Tarquinia – Un altro blog di MyBlog". Fanumvoltumnae.myblog.it. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "Riportati alla luce sull'Alfina i resti di un tempio etrusco del IV sec. a.C." Orvieto News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ^ "Luigi Catena". Facebook.
- ^ Feo, 2006
- ^ Corriere di Viterbo, 2 April 2007
- ^ "ALBERTO PALMUCCI – Op. filologiche". Digilander.libero.it. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ Palmucci, 2007
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20120326104152/http://www.originietruschi.it/public/origini/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/3.Tagete-Tuscania.jpg. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
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Sources
- Berlingo, Irene; Angelo Timperi (1995). Bolsena e il suo lago. Rome: Quasar.
- Coarelli Filippo, "Il rescritto di Spello e il santuario 'etnico' degli umbri, Umbria Cristiana. Dalla Diffusione del culto al culto dei santi (secc. iv–x)," Atti del xv Congresso internazionale di studi sull’alto medioevo, Spoleto 23–28 October 2000, Spoleto, 2001, 737–747.
- Feo, Giovanni (2006). Geografia sacra. Stampa Alternativa.
- Ligota, Christopher R. (1987). "Annius of Viterbo and Historical Method". Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes. 50: 44–56. S2CID 191960635.
- Palmucci Alberto, "Virgilio, Erodoto, il DNA e l'origine degli Etruschi (Corito Tarquinia)". "Aufidus" (Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Antichità dell'Università di Bari; Dipartimento di Studi del Mondo Antico dell'Università di Roma Tre", 2007, nr. 62-63, p. 116, ss.
- Pelosi Tonino, Fortunati Fabio, Ipotesi sul "Fanum Voltumnae"… l’ultimo, grande mistero degli Etruschi, Bolsena, 1998.
- Ridgway, David (1979–1980). "Archaeology in Sardinia and Etruria, 1974–1979". Archaeological Reports. 26: 54–70. S2CID 129097614.
- Signorelli, Mario (1973). Le vie segrete degli Etruschi. Milan: SugarCo Editore.
- Signorelli, Mario (1977). Nel mondo allucinante degli Etruschi. Milan: SugarCo Editore.
- Signorelli, Mario (1966). Sui sentieri dei Lucumoni Etruschi. Viterbo: Quatrini.
- Timperi, Angelo (2010). Il Fanum Voltumnae a Bolsena – Dovuto a Voltumna. Viterbo: S.Ed editore.