Mystic Cults in Magna Graecia

Chapter 13. Aegyptiaca from Cumae: New Evidence for Isis Cult in Campania: Site and Materials

Chapter 13 Aegyptiaca from Cumae: New Evidence for Isis Cult in Campania: Site and Materials Paolo Caputo In 1992, during the construction of a gas pipeline, the Archaeological Superintendence of Naples and Caserta, under my direction, undertook emergency excavations at Cumae (Campania).1 Architectural remains, dating back to the Roman age, were found on an area of about 480 square meters, lying on the site identified by Paget2 as pertaining to the GrecoRoman port of the town, right in the middle of what was argued to be the access canal (Fig. 13.1). The excavations brought to light some fragmentary Egyptian statues and various scattered fragments of Egyptianizing materials. A collaborative team of classical archaeologists and Egyptologists was formed with the purpose of approaching the site from different points of view. According to many scholars, first of all to Paget, the ancient harbor of the Greek and Roman town of Cumae occupied the bay lying to the south of the promontory on the top of which the Cumaean acropolis was set. At present, the area is completely filled up by coastal sediments. Geoarchaeological cores have proved that in ancient historical times, the harbor of Cumae was located in the lake of Licola in the northern area of the town, whereas the area at south never was a harbor.3 Although the form and the function of most of the structures are mostly identifiable, some remains of the complex pose problems for which the present report cannot offer definitive solutions. These problems are mainly due to the fortunes of preservation. Other uncertainties remain because a railway and modern cultivations have inhibited excavations in certain critical areas. Further excavations in these areas, conducted by the Centre J. Bérard of Naples for the Project Kyme I and II, proved the existence in the area of many villae maritimae.4 For this reason, we cannot exclude the possibility that some natural or artificial canals and basins, connected to the sea or to spring Figure 13.1. Cumae (Campaniae). The harbor area. The black point indicates the Isaeum related to the hypothesis of Paget. Aegyptiaca from Cumae 237 water, were in this area in antiquity. Although this is very difficult to demonstrate , recent studies and research carried out by Professors F. Bernstein and D. Orr (University of Maryland, College Park), who pursued excavations in the area of the Isaeum in 1998–2000 and who are now working out their data, appear to be going in this direction. It has been possible to identify (Fig. 13.2): • Remains of a flight of stairs, leaning on the north wall of the podium (Fig. 13.3); • part of an apsidal hall leaning on the south wall of the podium but not connected to it and with the access on the east side; • remains of a quadrangular room on the east side of the podium, separated from the latter by an L-shaped corridor; • a rectangular pool, facing the north side of the podium; • remains of a porticus surrounding the pool. It is clear from the extant remains that there were several stages in the construction of the complex. The structural sequences observed provide the basis for discerning at least four distinct building phases, dating back to a period ranging from the first century BCE to the second century CE. The type of building material used, the methods of construction, and the structural relationship noted provide the evidence. The podium shows two different building phases (Fig. 13.4). Restoration works in its south/east side revealed a first lower structure as large as the upper one, formed by two rectangular vaulted rooms.5 They were filled up by spring water and sandy sediments that made excavations impossible; but archaeological prospecting made it possible to recognize their dimensions .The association with fragments of late Campana A dates back to not before 100 BCE. The more recent upper podium, based on little vaults in opus reticulatum, was built with the system already known in the so-called Pausilypon Temple (first half of the first century CE). The use of such a technique could be justified by the nature of the sandy soil and the vicinity of the sea. The walls of the little vaults, originally completely closed, were covered with a thin surface of signinum. The building technique (opus reticulatum of irregular type) allows it to be dated back to the second half of the first century BCE...