Syriac Sanctuary on the Janiculum Hill. Special openings

The archaeological site of the so-called Syriac Sanctuary of the Janiculum on Via Dandolo is once again open to the public, with free, no-reservation visits required.

Discovered by chance in 1908, at the foot of Villa Sciarra, the Syriac Sanctuary of the Janiculum represents an important evidence of the presence of cultural influences from the eastern provinces of the Empire in a commercial location along the right bank of the Tiber.

Built in the 4th century AD, the Sanctuary stands on the ruins of older buildings dating back to the 1st-2nd centuries AD and is composed of three distinct parts: two sets of differently shaped rooms, separated by a large central courtyard, which opens onto the main entrance. Following excavations and research conducted over the past twenty-five years, scholars agree that the Sanctuary was a place of worship dedicated to the Egyptian deity Osiris. This hypothesis is confirmed by the discovery of a bronze statue - now on display at the National Roman Museum - coiled in a serpent, discovered alongside other ritual objects, along with several marble sculptures of Dionysus and a black basalt pharaoh, all attributable to Egyptian cults of the underworld and fertility.

The event, curated by the manager Rocco Bochicchio, includes extraordinary openings on November 9th and 23rd from 9.30am to 12.15pm and on December 7th from 9.30am to 12.15pm.

Photo: official Facebook page of the Archaeological Superintendency