Archaeological Site of Alto da Vigia
Encyclopedia
The oldest accounts of a Roman
sanctuary
to the Sun, Moon and Imperial cult
, by the mouth of the river of Colares dates back to the 16th century. It was a circular temenos
, an open air religious space.
Recent archaeological intervention confirmed the existence the sanctuary from the 2nd-3rd century AD and also a watchtower dating back to the early 16th century AD.
The importance of the sanctuary is made evident from the fact that the inscriptions discovered, in honour of the health of the Emperor
and the eternity of the Empire
, are dedicated by holders of high imperial positions, notably governors of Lusitania
or legates of the Emperor, although sometimes through the senate
of Olisipo
, municipality whose territory included this particular area.
The inscriptions were dedicated by Sextus Tigidius Perennis
, governor of Lusitania, to the Soli et Lunae in 185 AD; between 200 and 209 by Junius Celanius, a governor, to the Soli aeterno Lunae and by Caius Julius Celsus, procurator province Lusitaniae in the late 2nd century.
Surprisingly, an important Islamic settlement, whose existence was totally unknown, was equally found, being probably connected to the name Alconchel (al-concilium). Its architecture reveals it was a ribat
(convent), with several rooms uncovered so far, one of which includes a mirhab turned to the southeast, in the direction of Mecca
. A necropolis from the same epoch (12th century) was also found.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
to the Sun, Moon and Imperial cult
Imperial cult (ancient Rome)
The Imperial cult of ancient Rome identified emperors and some members of their families with the divinely sanctioned authority of the Roman State...
, by the mouth of the river of Colares dates back to the 16th century. It was a circular temenos
Temenos
Temenos is a piece of land cut off and assigned as an official domain, especially to kings and chiefs, or a piece of land marked off from common uses and dedicated to a god, a sanctuary, holy grove or holy precinct: The Pythian race-course is called a temenos, the sacred valley of the Nile is the ...
, an open air religious space.
Recent archaeological intervention confirmed the existence the sanctuary from the 2nd-3rd century AD and also a watchtower dating back to the early 16th century AD.
The importance of the sanctuary is made evident from the fact that the inscriptions discovered, in honour of the health of the Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
and the eternity of the Empire
Empire
The term empire derives from the Latin imperium . Politically, an empire is a geographically extensive group of states and peoples united and ruled either by a monarch or an oligarchy....
, are dedicated by holders of high imperial positions, notably governors of Lusitania
Lusitania
Lusitania or Hispania Lusitania was an ancient Roman province including approximately all of modern Portugal south of the Douro river and part of modern Spain . It was named after the Lusitani or Lusitanian people...
or legates of the Emperor, although sometimes through the senate
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature or parliament. There have been many such bodies in history, since senate means the assembly of the eldest and wiser members of the society and ruling class...
of Olisipo
Olisipo
Municipium Cives Romanorum Felicitas Julia Olisipo was the ancient name of modern day Lisbon while part of the Roman Empire....
, municipality whose territory included this particular area.
The inscriptions were dedicated by Sextus Tigidius Perennis
Tigidius Perennis
Sextus Tigidius Perennis was a prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, during the reigns of the emperors Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Under the latter, Perennis was the man who exercised the chief responsibilities of government in the Roman Empire...
, governor of Lusitania, to the Soli et Lunae in 185 AD; between 200 and 209 by Junius Celanius, a governor, to the Soli aeterno Lunae and by Caius Julius Celsus, procurator province Lusitaniae in the late 2nd century.
Surprisingly, an important Islamic settlement, whose existence was totally unknown, was equally found, being probably connected to the name Alconchel (al-concilium). Its architecture reveals it was a ribat
Ribat
A ribat is an Arabic term for a small fortification as built along a frontier during the first years of the Muslim conquest of North Africa to house military volunteers, called the murabitun...
(convent), with several rooms uncovered so far, one of which includes a mirhab turned to the southeast, in the direction of Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. A necropolis from the same epoch (12th century) was also found.