The 2,500-year-old "Holy Pond" is used for stargazing.

Near Sicily, archaeologists unearthed an old "holy lake." They believe the "pool" was used in religious ceremonies. It had the potential to be the Mediterranean's greatest ritual complex. What purpose did it have?

Until now, scientists thought that an ancient rectangular structure on a small island off the west coast of Sicily served as a harbor for ancient Phoenician sailors. The latest research suggests that it may have been a “sacred pool” where the people sought the presence of gods. The discovery was reported in the scientific journal Antiquity.

What was the ancient “sacred pool”?

“The pool” was discovered already in the 1920s, but at that time no one knew exactly what the object was. Initially, it was thought to be a harbor. Researchers suspected that it was the so-called Kothon, which served as a military harbor in the Phoenician world. The first such structures were built during the Punic Wars, which took place from 264 to 146 BC. At the time, the Roman Republic was fighting against Carthage.

Now researchers have determined that the site was built much earlier, around 550 BC. It was supposed to serve as a giant sanctuary where the ancients observed the stars.

“For nearly a century, everyone thought that the ancient city of Motja was home to the so-called Kothon. Our latest excavations have disproved just this theory “— says Prof. Lorenzo Nigro, archaeologist from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”.

It probably could have been the largest ritual complex in the Mediterranean basin.

In 2010, new excavations began on the island. Scientists wanted to find out more about the ancient city of Motja and Kothon itself. At that time, it turned out that the ruins of three temples were found at the edge of the site, not the port buildings that were expected. This prompted archaeologists to investigate further.

Over the next decade, Prof. Nigro and his team of researchers tried hard to unravel the mysteries of the mysterious structure.

“When we completely excavated and drained the basin, we were sure that it could not have been a harbor. There was no direct connection to the sea. The water was getting into the basin from another source,” the professor emphasizes.

It probably came from a nearby lagoon, with which the structure was connected by a channel that the discoverers managed to dig out.

In subsequent work, researchers managed to find evidence that Kothon was in fact an advanced ritual complex. The ruins of temple buildings that were located on both sides of the pool were excavated, along with several stelae and altars.

Motja had its own Hercules. It was Baal

Additionally, in the middle of the site, votive offerings and a pedestal were discovered that once held a statue of Baal, a deity that originated in Semitic beliefs. The cult of Baal was brought from Syria to Rome by Emperor Heliogabalus. Interestingly, Baal was the equivalent of the famous Greek Hercules. The sculpture was excavated near the pool, and scientists put it back in its original place.

The scientists conveyed in a statement that all indications are that the ritual complex was designed to coincide with the constellations that were seen in the sky.

“In our opinion, this proves what kind of knowledge ancient civilizations had about the sky”, says Prof. Nigro.

Scientists suspect that the surface of the pool was meant to reflect the stars so people could track their movement. Additionally, in Phoenician belief, each constellation signified a different god. Researchers suspect that they were worshipped at this site.

An ancient city that may have owed its success to its multi-ethnicity

But that’s not all. Professor Nigro suggests that the temple may have served as a navigational object. In fact, a tool that was supposed to make navigation possible has been found in the complex. Additionally, an image of an Egyptian god, who was associated with astronomy, was observed on one of the stelae.

Motja was an ancient city that was founded around 800 BC on a small island that is only two kilometers in diameter. It was founded by the Phoenicians as a trading city. Over the centuries, the settlement became a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic place. It owes this to Phoenician, Carthaginian, Egyptian and Greek influences.

The researchers admit that although much information about the lives of the inhabitants of ancient Motia remains unclear, it is clear that the society functioned in a harmonious symbiosis for hundreds of years, despite many identity differences. Professor Nigro suspects that the first humans settled on the islet as much as 4,000 years ago.

Source: Antiquity