- chapter 29: Tarquinia, Sacred areas and sanctuaries –
The third phase (530–480 bc)After the southern area was destroyed by fi re, thick layers of earth were leveled to build
two joint sacella of Aphrodite and Hera focused on a south-north axis with a unique
pronaos open to the south. The ultimate construction of the Heraion near the Aphrodision
possibly implies the presence of Greeks from Aegina, which could be also supported
by fi nds, in second deposition, belonging to this same chronological phase, such as the
famous cippus of Sostratos dedicated in Greek to Apollo of Aegina (Fig. 29.21).^28 In the
meantime the escharai of the north-west area were monumentalized with two altars (δ and
ε) that fi nd parallels in Magna Graecia and Sicily.^29 They are near the spot where a votive
deposit was sealed in secondary deposition, after the destruction of the sanctuary carried
out by the Romans in 281 bc. The composition of the votive deposit, belonging to the
most consistent period of worship of this northern part of the sanctuary, is very important
to assess its religious destination.^30 Such offerings fi nd impressive comparisons with the
chthonic cult practices held in honor of Śuri and Cavatha in the southern sanctuary of
Pyrgi. At Gravisca, Śuri’s cult is attested by the presence of spearheads, miniature weapons
and a warrior fi gurine (Fig. 29.22) together with shining stones recalling thunderbolts
and the baityloi offered to the god,^31 whereas Cavatha’s cult emerges from the recurrence of
skyphoi and olpai with a standard capacity.^32 On the whole, such offerings together with the
shape of the altars, are considered by the excavators to be expressions of a massive infl uence
from the Sicilian tyrants; this was particularly strong in such historical circumstances
when Rome was also looking for involvement with the strong economic power of Sicily.^33
The fourth phase (480–400 bc)Probably as a consequence of the loss of power in the Tyrrhenian Sea suffered by all
Etruscans after the defeats infl icted by the Greeks in 480 bc (battle of Himera and victory
of Syracuse against the Carthaginians, the Etruscans’ allies), and in 474 bc (battle of
Figure 29.21 Gravisca, sanctuary, the cippus of Sostratos with the dedication in Greek to Apollo of
Aegina from the southern area. Thanks to Lucio Fiorini, Università degli Studi di Perugia.