Archaeological site in Gisira - Adonai
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Description

Archaeological site in Gisira - Adonai

Name

Late Imperial Furnace; hypogean environments of the late antique and early medieval age; rock church of the Byzantine age. (A3).

Description 

At the north-eastern end of the Gisira plateau, near the coast, stands a church dedicated to Mater Adonai, which incorporates a cave of natural origin, the original nucleus of the cult. The interior of the rock environment with an almost square plan, about 2.80 m high, is covered with a plaster, now deteriorated by humidity, which covered the walls and the vault. At the center of the vault there is a large hole communicating with an environment of the monastery above. On the back wall there is a poorly preserved fresco applied on a leveling of a
small spur of rock; only the image of the crowned Virgin with the Child in her arms is distinguishable from it. Floral and linear painted decorations remain on the side walls. To the north of the cave a staircase leads to the monastery above, characterized by rooms used for services and dormitories. To the south, the cave is connected to another hypogean environment, which is accessed through an opening in the left wall, now walled up. Other caves, including a funerary hypogeum, are located in a short valley, east of the rock church. In the nearby coastal stretch there is a late Roman furnace

Historical information:

According to hagiographic sources, during the persecutions of the third century. AD, some Christian communities found refuge in the cave. It is said that the bishop Agatone, wanting to escape the persecution of Diomede, landed in the bay of Agnone and from there he passed into the territory of Lentini, where he managed to escape the search of the tyrant Tertullus. Later, together with other Christians, he sought refuge in a hypogeum open on one of the flanks of the Gisira. The small Christian community chose a nearby temple as a place of worship, dedicated to the Mother of God, built a few years earlier by Publius, but abandoned during the persecutions of Armato. It is identifiable with the Adonai cave

Bibliographic sources

Amico V., Topographical Dictionary of Sicily, 1858, sv Donia; Vigo A., Neofito (i.e., Historical outline of the Grotte del Greco, at the foot of Mount Assia in Sicily, of the Saints who lived there, of the Image of Maria Mater Adonai and of the Hermitage under this title) 1872, p.66-118,158 ; Zuppello Santangelo F., Historical memories of the city of Augusta (late 31th century). - ms. unpublished, Augusta Municipal Library, Blasco collection), pp. 35-1876; Salomone S., Augusta illustrata or History of Augusta, 134, pp. 136-1899; Strazzulla V., History and archeology of Trotilon, Xifonia, and other sites near Augusta di Sicilia, 489, pp.497-1902; Orsi, Mulinello near Augusta, “NSc”, 643b, p.1952; Agnello, Byzantine architecture in Sicily 236, pp. 242-1961; Garana O. The Sicilian catacombs and their martyrs, 173, p. 1979; Messina A., The rupestrian churches of Syracuse 86, pp. 87-1996; Lanteri, Late ancient settlements in the Megarese territory, 23b, p.1997; Lanteri R., Augusta and its territory, elements for an archaeological map, 20, pp. 23-1999. Guidelines 211, Archeol Sites Map. nos. 212-XNUMX.

Area of ​​archaeological interest, art. 142 letter m) Legislative Decree 42/04

(Source text of survey form n.17 Landscape Plan of the Province of Syracuse - Archaeological Heritage)

 

Archaeological Heritage Sheets Landscape Plan of Syracuse

Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero

Information contributions: Web, Region of Sicily 

Photo: Card shown above

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