Cult evidence from the acropolis of Bithia: the contribution of figurative terracottas

Abstract

The excavations held by the Superintendence of Cagliari on the promontory of Chia (Domus de Maria, Sardinia) have brought to light structures of the ancient city of Bithia related to a place of worship. Among the archaeological items were found fragments of statuettes depicting women, some of which in postures recalling Aphrodites, a kourotrophos, a young Eros, doves, bulls, fruits like fig and quince. It is worthy of mention a rare statuette of a pregnant woman, the belly of which was highlighted by an incised square. Even if it is not possible to name the deity to whom the sanctuary was dedicated, the iconographic types of the terracottas seem to refer to a worship connected to the fertility and the protection of maternity and marriage.

The papers published in this volume were presented at the International Conference “What Can Terracottas Tell Us: Coroplastic Polysemy in the Ancient Mediterranean” (Cagliari – Cittadella dei Musei, 10–12th November 2022) organized under the scientific direction of Romina Carboni, Claudia Cenci and Nicola Chiarenza.