Nuove testimonianze dal santuario di località Panetelle

Abstract

The sanctuary of Panetelle is located in the suburbs of the town of Mondragone (CE), near the river Savone. In ancient
times it was one of the most significant places of worship in the land of the Aurunci. It was situated in an important
point of control of both the surrounding area and internal paths and bordered the fertile plain of Campania. It is an
area well known for its fertility and was the ager Falernus in Roman times. Due to its location, it can be considered
a border sanctuary: a natural meeting and exchange place for different people. The sanctuary remained for too many
years in the shadow of sanctuaries considered to be more “important” in northern Campania. Very little has been
published about the sacred area of Panetelle even though three excavation campaigns were conducted there between
1969 and 1977. This research, in addition to highlighting the foundations of a temple on a podium dating to the second
century B.C., still visible today, revealed several finds containing thousands of votive offerings. The analysis of
the materials established that the sanctuary was attended from the seventh century B.C. up to the first century B.C.
In recent years a little storage jar was found near the sacred area in a completely fortuitous way. On the lip of the
storage jar there is a dedicatory inscription which mentions the female deity worshipped in Panetelle,. The analysis of
the votives, mostly votive statuettes of a small size, leads to a series of observations on certain aspects of the worship
of the goddess venerated in Panetelle. In particular, it emerges that the divinity oversaw the moments of passage, both
for men and women, as well as the proceedings of initiatory rituals. These numerous attributes may call to mind the
chthonic world and the figures of various Greek gods, including Artemis, Demeter, Aphrodite and Hera.