Posta di Mesa – Een Republikeins heiligdom langs de Via Appia (Italië)

Samenvatting

Posta di Mesa – a Republican sanctuary beside the Via Appia (Italy). This article reports on a study of votive material found by the local population in the surroundings of Posta di Mesa, a station along the Via Appia in central Italy. One group of material consists of seven bronze plaques inscribed with names of gods and goddesses. The other group comprises 61 ceramic items (votive statuettes and miniatures). By examining the earthenware group and combining this with the epigraphic study of the bronze plaques, the cult can be dated to the 4th-1st century BC. The type of cult is hard to determine because of the very sparse evidence. Although as yet unproven, Posta di Mesa may have played an important role in Roman colonisation. The Romans may have used the sanctuary as a political instrument during their expansion. Further research is required in order to gain more evidence about the type of cult, the type of sanctuary, the development of the cult and habitation in the area.