Author: A. Dell’Acqua
Download article as .pdf: Fontane o santuari delle acque: alcune strutture idriche extra urbane della Syria-Palaestina
This study examines seven rural complexes known as “nymphaea,” located outside urban centers in the Roman province of Syria-Palaestina. The sites analyzed are: Ras el-Ain (Baalbek), Qanawat, Temnine el-Fouqa, Ain Houchbay, Kasarnaba, Kafr Latah, Ein Hanya. These structures are closely linked to natural springs and their surrounding landscapes. Among them, only one (Ain Houchbay) is accompanied by an inscription, which, however, does not clarify the site’s function. The primary aim of this research is to determine whether these structures were conceived as places of worship and to identify indicators supporting this interpretation, given the scarcity of archaeological, epigraphic, and literary sources explicity defining their nature. The analysis relies on archaeological and contextual evidence to explore the role and perception of these sanctuaries within regional religious phenomena. Considering the nature of the archaeological evidence – some of which remains little known – this work provides a planimetric analysis and an architectural description of each monument. The discussion concludes with with comparative observations and hypotheses regarding their possible functions. Additionally, chronological proposals are presented for the monuments of Ein Hanya and Temnine el-Fouqa, based on previously unexamined architectural decorations.