Pantelleria, like ancient Rome: a place for political speeches

Archaeologists from the University of Tubingen, Germany, have uncovered a gathering place in Pantelleria, an ancient Roman city known as Cossyra. The site, previously thought to be a theater, has now been identified as a comitia, a meeting place where elected officials and representatives of aristocratic families made decisions for the city. The comitia could accommodate 200 people and is considered one of the most well-preserved in Italy. Excavations also revealed a wide road leading to sacred sites and two Tabernae, public places frequented by all. The archaeologists also found a temple beneath a 19th-century dammuso (traditional stone house), containing a mosaic. Additionally, ancient Roman weapons, including stone ammunition and a balista, a type of crossbow, were discovered. Cossyra was an autonomous city governed by its residents but subject to the authority of the royal family. It was finally conquered by the Romans in 217 AD. In 2003, marble heads of Caesar, Titus, and Antonia Minor were found in two cisterns and gained significant attention in museums across Europe. The archaeologists also found a calendario, a calendar listing the island’s planned festivities. These small pieces contain the names corresponding to each year, although their meaning remains unknown.

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Pantelleria come l’antica Roma: c’era un luogo per i comizi dei politici

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