Roman healing bath sanctuary votive finds

[guy]

Alters in water

A great Roman find in the Tuscan hill town of San Casciano dei Bagni, famous even today for its hot springs.
 

Quote

 

Hundreds of gold, silver, orichalcum, and bronze coins, a bronze putto, a marble relief of a bull’s head, five bronze votive figurines, miniature lamps, a bronze foil belt, and other religious offerings were found during excavations this summer in San Casciano Dei Bagni, establishing the baths as a particularly rich religious sanctuary beyond their significance as a thermal resort.
 

It was discovered during excavations carried out between July and October last year, in a muddy garden adjacent to the spring, 20 meters south of the pools. They unearthed a section of a multi-layer Roman sanctuary built in the Augustan era (between 27 BC and 14 AD) that contained three altars dedicated to Apollo, Isis, and Fortuna Primigenia respectively and a marble statue of Hygieia. Inscriptions honor Apollo as the god of healing. A wall of massive, well-cut blocks beneath the Augustan-period shrine shows that it was erected over a much older holy site, potentially going back to the Hellenistic era, and maybe even earlier Etruscan origin.

 

Some excavated coins from Augustus, Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius
 

 

A marble statue of Hygeia, deity of health and daughter of Asclepius, the healing god, discovered at the site. 

Ears, probable votive offerings

 

The altar of Fortuna Primigenia [Credit: Municipality 
of San Casciano dei Bagni]

 

https://arkeonews.net/an-extraordinary-votive-treasure-was-unearthed-in-the-ancient-roman-bath-sanctuary-of-san-casciano-dei-bagni-in-italy/

 

https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/san-casciano-dei-bagni-0015195

 

https://www.tgtourism.tv/2022/08/san-casciano-dei-bagni-presentate-le-nuove-scoperte-archeologiche-2-114946

 

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-roman-sanctuary-re-emerges-at-san.html?m=1

 

 

Edited August 7, 2022 by guy

[guy]

Here is another article on the find that includes other pictures of the votive offerings and gives insights into the healing properties and significance of the site.

 

 

 

Womb-shaped votive offering

 

Phallus-shaped votive offering

 

San Casciano is a geothermal hub with forty hot springs, six connected to the thermal sanctuary. The Etruscan picked this location to utilize the therapeutic power of the water's chemical properties -- it is rich in minerals such as calcium and magnesium, as well as chloride and sulfates.

San Casciano's ancient thermal baths functioned like a hospital clinic, with visitors seeking respite from respiratory problems or aching bones. For many, a float in the waters reduced their pain, so after their bath they'd throw offerings to the gods into the bubbly pools giving thanks for being healed. These included tree branches, scented pine cones and fruits such as peaches -- which have been recovered in well-preserved states thanks to the layers of mud the site has since been covered by.

Health rituals carried out at the thermal baths included those specifically linked to pregnancy and birth. A recovered statue of a naked baby led archaeologists to believe that ancient women would visit San Casciano both during their pregnancies and after giving birth in the hope of protecting their baby's health. Related practices have continued in the centuries since: "Up until 50 years ago, village women who had trouble conceiving a child would come to the thermal baths in the belief that the water would relax their womb," said Tabolli.

 

http://us.cnn.com/style/article/san-casciano-dei-bagni-thermal-baths-relics-scn/index.html