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2.000-Year-Old Temple Found Submerged Off Italian Coast, Revealing Historical Secrets
Recently, near Naples, Italy, archaeologists made a stunning discovery: a 2.000-year-old Nabataean temple on the coast of Pozzuoli, the ancient Roman city of Puteoli.
This discovery adds a valuable chapter to the history of the Nabataean civilization, a culture recognized for its rock-cut monuments at Petra in Jordan.
Contrary to what was expected, the Nabataeans left their mark on Pozzuoli with a temple that, although built in the Roman architectural style, was dedicated to Dushara, the supreme Nabataean god.
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This mix of architectural and religious influences opens up new perspectives on cultural exchanges between civilizations.
“Between land and sea” project
The excavations are part of the “Between Land and Sea” project, a collaboration between the Italian Ministry of Culture and the University of Campania. The project focuses on the Puteolana riparian zone, an extension of submerged Roman structures that were part of the ancient port of Puteoli.
The port of Puteoli was an important entry point for goods from Egypt and North Africa, with an infrastructure that included extensive warehouses and sophisticated buildings. Due to volcanic activity, these structures were submerged, preserving what remained under the Mar.
In 2023, while documenting the submerged harbor, archaeologists identified the Nabataean sanctuary. Nabataean architecture is typically restricted to the Middle East, making the discovery in Pozzuoli an archaeological surprise.
Description of the temple
Researcher Michele Stefanile and his team used photogrammetric surveys to reconstruct the temple's architecture, revealing two aligned rooms and marble altars.
Each altar bore the inscription “Dusari sacrum,” Latin for “consecrated to Dushara,” confirming the site’s purpose as a Nabataean shrine.
In Room A, two marble altars line the south wall. One of them, with eight recessed spaces, probably held betils, sacred stones that symbolized deities.
This Nabataean religious practice was marked by the absence of anthropomorphic representations, allowing a unique veneration of Dushara.
Ritual modifications and purposes
In Room B, archaeologists found a concrete pedestal covered with cocciopesto, a Roman waterproof mortar. The structure indicates that the temple underwent modifications, such as the addition of a ritual basin.
It is believed that this area may have been used for offerings or purifications, reinforcing the importance of the temple as a place of Nabataean devotion.
Nabataean integration in Puteoli
The discovery also offers a glimpse into the lives of Nabataean merchants in Puteoli, especially during the reign of Augustus (31 BC to AD 14). At this time, Rome encouraged economic freedom for its allies, allowing the Nabataeans to prosper in Roman society.
Nabataean merchants at Puteoli benefited from Rome's vast trade network, trading spices and silk from the Indian Ocean.
The temple was built with local materials such as tuff stone and Luni marble, an expensive and probably imported resource, reflecting the desire for cultural integration and communication.
Transformations in the temple
With the conquest of the Nabataean Kingdom by Trajan in 106 AD, the region was absorbed into the Roman province of Arabia Petraea. This event diminished the economic autonomy of the Nabataeans, marking the beginning of a change in trade relations.
In the early 2nd century AD, the temple was preserved with concrete and other materials. This act demonstrates Roman respect for sacred sites, which, rather than being destroyed, were often sealed or buried.
Cultural heritage and fusion of traditions
The Nabataean presence at Puteoli represents a significant moment of cultural fusion and economic prosperity. Excavations, which will continue into 2024, promise to reveal even more about the temple and its connections to Nabataean culture.
The underwater sanctuary at Pozzuoli not only highlights the Nabataeans’ adaptation to Roman customs, but also their resilience in preserving their traditions. The decision to build a temple in the heart of Roman commerce reveals the Nabataean community’s commitment to its cultural heritage.
A legacy that is reborn
This discovery in the Gulf of Pozzuoli preserves the memory of a civilization that united the Eastern and Western worlds, leaving a legacy that literally resurfaced from the depths.
