Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica - Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica
Pantalica, Italy
08.09.2022
The Necropolis of Pantalica
The Necropolis of Pantalica, located in the southeast of Sicily, Italy, is a unique archaeological site that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. It consists of a vast necropolis with over 5,000 rock-cut tombs spread over an area of 1,200 hectares. The site is home to one of the largest collections of prehistoric and medieval tombs in Europe, and is a testament to the ancient civilizations that inhabited the island.
The site is situated in the Anapo Valley, which is surrounded by steep limestone cliffs. The valley was first inhabited by the Sicels, an ancient Italic tribe, during the 12th century BC. They were later conquered by the Greeks, who established the city of Syracuse in the 8th century BC. The city flourished under Greek rule and the necropolis of Pantalica became the main burial site for its inhabitants.
The necropolis is divided into five separate zones, each with its own unique features. The North-Western zone contains the majority of the tombs, including the Tomb of the Prince, which is the largest and most elaborate tomb in the necropolis. The North-Eastern zone is home to the Anaktoron, a royal palace built by the Sicels. The Southern zone contains a series of natural caves, while the South-Western zone has a number of Byzantine tombs. The Central zone is the most important and contains the majority of the prehistoric tombs.
The tombs themselves are carved directly into the limestone cliffs and are of varying sizes and complexity. The earliest tombs date back to the 12th century BC and are simple caves with a single entrance. Later tombs, dating from the 8th to the 3rd century BC, are more complex and can consist of multiple chambers and corridors. The tombs were used to bury entire families, and many contain intricate carvings and paintings depicting scenes from daily life.
The necropolis of Pantalica is not only a testament to the ancient civilizations that once inhabited Sicily, but also to the skill and artistry of its builders. It is a unique site that provides a glimpse into the daily lives and beliefs of the people who lived there thousands of years ago.
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The site consists of two separate elements, containing outstanding vestiges dating back to Greek and Roman times: The Necropolis of Pantalica contains over 5,000 tombs cut into the rock near open stone quarries, most of them dating from the 13th to 7th centuries BC. Vestiges of the Byzantine era also remain in the area, notably the foundations of the Anaktoron (Prince’s Palace). The other part of the property, Ancient Syracuse, includes the nucleus of the city’s foundation as Ortygia by Greeks from Corinth in the 8th century BC. The site of the city, which Cicero described as ‘the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of all’, retains vestiges such as the Temple of Athena (5th century BC, later transformed to serve as a cathedral), a Greek theatre, a Roman amphitheatre, a fort and more. Many remains bear witness to the troubled history of Sicily, from the Byzantines to the Bourbons, interspersed with the Arabo-Muslims, the Normans, Frederick II of the Hohenstaufen dynasty (1197–1250), the Aragons and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Historic Syracuse offers a unique testimony to the development of Mediterranean civilization over three millennia.
The Necropolis of Pantalica is a collection of cemeteries with rock-cut chamber tombs in southeast Sicily, Italy. Dating from the 13th to the 7th centuries BC, there was thought to be over 5,000 tombs, although the most recent estimate suggests a figure of just under 4,000. They extend around the flanks of a large promontory located at the junction of the Anapo river with its tributary, the Calcinara, about 23 km (14 mi) northwest of Syracuse. Together with the city of Syracuse, Pantalica was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
