Terrecotte architettoniche da Monte Saraceno di Ravanusa (AG)

Abstract

This paper focuses on a group of architectural terracottas from the ancient site of Monte Saraceno,
located in the hearth of central-southern Sicily, on the western side of the middle watercourse of the
Salso river, ancient Himera.
The specimens examined include various remarkable architecture elements of the revetments (simas, geison
revetments, eaves tile, antefixes) and of the decoration (pedimental reliefs, acroterial statues, disc acroterion)
of the roofs, especially of the religious buildings.
Through a detailed analysis of the morpho-typological and stylistic characteristics of the fragments and the
comparison with other architectural complexes, this study considers the revetments in the typical “Sicilian”
roof system and identifies close decorative and technical similarities with the productions of the workshops
of Syracuse and, above all, Gela of the first half of the 6th century B.C.
Therefore, based on the examination of the contexts of provenance of the finds, the research makes a suggestion
on the number and the distribution of the monuments built in the city in the archaic age on the
number and the distribution of the monuments built in the city in the archaic age. To conclude, the research
formulates the hypothesis that after the middle of the 6th century B.C. the center of Monte Saraceno had a
profoundly Greek character and that its geographical and cultural context of reference was mainly Gela.

Keywords: Monte Saraceno, Sicily, architectural terracottas, roof decorations, archaic age.