The Archaeology of Ancient Sicily

232 Pages·2000·5.92 MB·English

by  R. Ross Holloway

The Archaeology of Ancient Sicily
Sicily is renowned for the richness of its archaeological record, especially from the classical age.
This accessible survey provides the only comprehensive introduction to the wealth of ancient
artefacts and monuments discovered on the island.
From the Palaeolithic to the later Roman period, The Archaeology of Ancient Sicily explores all
the main topics of archaeological interest. These range from Greek colonisation, sanctuaries and
burial, the architecture of temples, houses, theatres and military sites, to sculpture, the cities of the
island, and the Sicels. Separate sections explore the fascinating coinage of Sicily and the famous
late Roman villa at Piazza Armerina.
With clear, concise and illuminating commentary, over 200 illustrations, and an exhaustive bibli-
ography—now updated—Professor Holloway’s study continues to be the standard work on the
archaeology of ancient Sicily. It is also a valuable tool for students of ancient history.

The Archaeology of Ancient Sicily
R.Ross Holloway
Drawings by Ann Lovelace Holloway
London and New York
First published 1991
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001

First published in paperback 2000

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group

This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004.

© 1991, 2000 R.Ross Holloway
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress

ISBN 0-203-46962-3 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN 0-203-77786-7 (Adobe eReader Format)
ISBN 0-415-23791-2 (Print Edition)
NED
TERRA SIT LEVIS TIBI

CONTENTS
List of illustrations ix
Preface xvii
1 Prehistoric Sicily 1
The Palaeolithic 1
The Neolithic 7
The end of the Neolithic; Sicily and Malta 13
The Early Bronze Age 20
The Middle and Late Bronze Age 30
2 Early Greek Sicily 43
Background 43
The first colonies 49
Sanctuaries 55
Appendix 1: the identification of Gela 63
Appendix 2: the Sanctuary of San Biagio and
the Sanctuary of the Chthonian
Divinities at Acragas 63
Burials 64
Temples 66
Sculpture 74
City planning 83
Crafts 85
The Sicels 86
3 Late Archaic and Classical Greek Sicily 97
Sculpture in the Age of the Tyrants
and its aftermath 97
Classical architecture 112
4 Coinage 121
Appendix: numismatic evidence and the
Timoleontic recovery of Sicily
in the fourth century BC 140
5 Later Greek, Punic and Roman Sicily 141
Military architecture 141
The Greek Classical and Hellenistic house 147
Theaters 151
vii
viii CONTENTS
Punic Sicily 155
Hellenistic and Roman cities 156
Cicero and Verres 164
6 The villa at Piazza Armerina 167
Notes 179
Bibliography (1980–9) 185
Index 203
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Drawings by Anne Lovelace Holloway, unless separately cred-
ited. Photographs, except as otherwise credited and nos 159 and
162, by the author.
Map 1Prehistoric Sicily xix
Map 2Greek, Roman and Phoenician Sicily 44
1 Chopping-tool 1
2 Levanzo, rock engraving 3
3 Levanzo, rock engraving 3
4 Levanzo, rock engraving 4
5 Monte Pellegrino, rock engraving 4
6 Licata, Navarra collection, sandstone figurine 5
7 Licata, Navarra collection, sandstone figurine 5
8 Uzzo, scene of Mesolithic life after drawing
of M.T.Serafini 6
9 Syracuse Museum, vase of the Stentinello style
from Naxos 8
10 Trapani, Stentinello-style vase fragment from Uzzo 8
11 Agrigento Museum, jadeite head from Sciacca 9
12 Agrigento Museum, figurine from Busoné 10
13 Syracuse Museum, Neolithic vase from Megara
Hyblaea 11
14 Syracuse Museum, Neolithic vase from Paternò 11
15 Gozo, Ggantija Temple 14
16 Valetta Museum, temple model from Tarxien 15
17 Mnaidra, graffito 15
18 Hagar Qim Temple 15
19 Hagar Qim Temple 16
20 Hal Saflieni Hypogeum 16
21 Syracuse Museum, vase of the Diana style from
Matrensa 19
22 Syracuse, vase of the Diana style from
Matrensa 19
23 Licata Museum, Navarra collection, vase of the
San Cono-Piano Notaro-Grotta Zubbia style 19
24 ‘Oven tomb’ 19
ix