Il bosco sacro nel santuario di Altino: una proposta di lettura

Abstract

Within the context of the peri-urban sanctuary of Altinum, located in the ‘Fornace’ area, the archaeological remains of structures referring to the Roman period are examined. They can be dated from the first half of the Ist century A.D. to the beginning of the IIIrd century A.D., and may belong to a sacred wood. On account of the evidence and parallelisms with similar sacred areas, an assessment of the religious practice performed in the Altinum sanctuary is proposed. This concerns, in particular, the delimitation of the sacred wood, the presence and ritual use of water, the quality and function of trees, the ritual precautions implied by their plantation, pruning and defunctioning, the quality of ex-votos, and the ownership of the sacred area.