LOST VENUS TEMPLES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 March 1923, Page 7

LOST VENUS TEMPLES

INTERESTING DISCOVERY IN SICILY ROME.—Much interest has been aroused among archaeologists by the announcement that fragments of the famous temple of Venus on Mount Eryx have been discovered, imbedded among the masonry of the mediaeval castle that now crowns the summit ot the peak. ■ "Magnus Eryx," or, to call it by ' its modern name, Monte San Giuliano, forms the culminating point of the north-west corner of Sicily, and is situated about twelve miles from Trapani. It commands a magnificent, view of the' Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian seas, and of the classic, groups of Aegates and the Lipari, sung of by Homer. The Phoenicians built a temple on this height to their goddess, ABhtaroth, which later became one of the most celebrated centres of worship of the ancient world as the shrine of ''Venus . Erycina." . Greek and Roman writers give glowing desqriptions of its beauty and majestic proportions, of its gates of mas- ! sive gold, of the statue of the goddess, and of the thick grove of trees which hid the fane and the mystic rites of its white-robed priestesses from the vulgar gaze. The Romans, who/became masters of Sicily after the Second Runic War, had a'particular veneration for '•'Venus Erycina," to whom they asscribed much of their success and pros'perity. A guard of honour of 200 men was stationed permanently in front of the temple, and its revenues were kept up by a gold tribute exacted from the seventeen cities of the island. Under the Empire, Tiberias and Claudius both .restored the shrine; and it was not finally destroyed until the second century of the Christian era. Its ruins disappeared beneath the mass ive\ castle and fortress which arose, as time went on, on the top of the hill, and the famous temple and all its glory sank to a mere tradition. Last summer a Sici 1 lian archaeologist, Signor Gaspare Nicotri, who was investigating the castle, brought to light, in the interior, some pieces of sculptured cornice and the remains of some fluted columns. He communicated his discovery to the head of the Fine Arts Department at Palermo, Professor Gabriel, who is of opinion that the fragments undoubtedly form part of the ancient temple, but that they probably belong to restor rations made during the Roman period. Professor Fabrici has authorised furjither excavations, which are to take piace in the spring, as what has been discovered justifies the belief that remains of great interest and value may be recovered.