Santuário of Panóias

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Overview from the info center
Wells to accommodate the victims
Stairway to rock 3

The Santuário of Panóias is a multiple Roman sanctuary not far from Constantim in the central north of Portugal . The ruin, inconspicuous at first glance, is characterized by some special features. There are inscriptions next to the three separate monuments. The sanctuary is explained by another inscription that has only survived. The first modern report about Panóias comes from the year 1721.

The monuments are groups (rock 1 - rock 3) of depressions that were carved into the leveled surfaces of three granite domes . The four surviving inscriptions are on the vertical rock faces of the first group of monuments (rock 1).

  • Panóias

  • Panóias

  • Panóias

  • Panóias

The fifth inscription, only available as a copy, explains the complex. The ancient visitor met them before he came to the three cult sites. It was emblazoned on a now cleared rock. According to Géza Alföldy, her text read: “For the gods and goddesses worshiped in this sacred area. The sacrificial animals that are slaughtered are killed here. Their innards are burned in the square shafts opposite. Her blood poured into the small ducts next door. (This was established) by Senator Gaius C (...) Calpurnius Rufinus ”. One can imagine the process in view of the indentations. Alföldy recognizes an initiation ritual in the rites.

The recipients of the sacrifices were different deities, as can be seen from the surviving inscriptions, all of which have comparable content. Underneath there is also an inscription in Greek and Latin. First and foremost was Sarapis , an oriental underworld god.

The mostly rectangular recesses in the horizontally leveled surfaces were used to accommodate the victims. In the side holes inside there were probably grates that complemented the fire altar. Smaller pits next to the recesses are said to have been used to set up posts.

While the group lay in the open at rock 1, the picture is supplemented by a building in the other two places. Presumably these were the temples mentioned in the inscriptions that have disappeared without a trace.

  • At rock 2 there is a door threshold and the base trenches for rising walls. The recesses have frames for covers.
  • The group of depressions at rock 3 is carved into a rock about four meters high. A staircase leads up to her.

Since the recesses extend into the area of ​​the soles for the walls, there could be different construction phases. When asked whether the pits and depressions are older and whether they were added to a new cult cultivated by the Romans by Senator Calpurnius Rufinus, research tends (despite the construction phases at rock 3) to assume a uniform date of origin. Thereafter, the otherwise unknown Calpurnius Rufinus would have founded the cult of Panóias. According to the letter form of the inscriptions, this seems to have been the case in the 2nd or 3rd century AD.

A path leading from the foot of the hill to the summit connects the three squares that are roughly in line. An indication that the path is ancient is the route partially carved out of the rock.

literature

Coordinates: 41 ° 17 ′ 0 ″  N , 7 ° 40 ′ 55 ″  W.