Fanum d'Aron: Difference between revisions

Fanum d'Aron
	The ruins of Fanum d'Aron, c. 2014
	Shown within France
Location	Aurillac, Cantal, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Region	Auvergne
Coordinates	44°55′11″N 2°26′08″E / 44.91978°N 2.43557°E
Altitude	639 m (2,096 ft)
Type	Fanum (Romano-Celtic Temple)
Diameter	approx. 18 m (59 ft)
History
Founded	1st century CE
Abandoned	3rd century CE
Periods	Classical Antiquity
Cultures	Arverni, Gallo-Roman
Site notes
Excavation dates	1977 - 1978
Condition	Ruined
Ownership	Private
Monument historique
Designated	20 November 1980

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Fanum d'Aron is a fanum, or Romano-Celtic temple, located in Aurillac, a French commune in the Auvergne region.^[2]

Site and status

Discovered in 1970 in the southwest of Aurillac, the temple was excavated from May 1977 through the end of 1978 and added to the monuments historiques registry in 1980. It is situated in what is now a small municipal garden, between a pavilion and the Lescudilier industrial zone (cadastre BE n°360).^[2]^[3]

History

Salvage excavations have recovered rich materials from the site, including lapidary pieces, glass and metallic artifacts, coins, eight column capitals (four of which feature sculpted trachyte heads representing the Sun and Moon), a fluted column barrel fragment, and ceramics as well as terracotta antefixes.^[3]^[4] These objects establish that the temple would have been in use from the 1st to 3rd centuries CE.^[1]^[3]

Some artifacts and architectural elements from the site are kept on display at the Aurillac Museum of Art and Archeology,^[4] along with a model reconstruction of the fanum.

Architecture

The fanum is a circular chamber (cella) surrounded by a sixteen-sided polygonal ambulatory or gallery, which opens onto the Cère and Jordanne River valleys. The angles of the polygon are marked by the bases of fluted columns (eight of which are found in-place) bearing acanthus-leafed Corinthian capitals. Terracotta antefixes found at the site give some indication of the roofing materials and design. The complex appears to have had a courtyard encircled by a perimeter wall that was discovered through sondage, towards the northwest. The wall is 55 meters (180 ft) from the fanum, with a northwest-northeast orientation erected over a length of 84 meters (276 ft). There are also vestiges of a partially exposed square enclosure with paved ground southeast of the fanum, whose sides are 29 meters (95 ft) long. The structure is speculated to perhaps have been an annex of the sanctuary, a shelter for receiving pilgrims, or even another fanum.^[1]^[3]^[4]

Fanum d'Aron appears uncommon in Arverni and Vellavi territory for having a polygonal rather than quadrangular ambulatory, and unique for the ambulatory being of sixteen sides. Another fanum found at Mauriac (Cantal) can be compared for appearing to have had a round cella and decagonal ambulatory. This uncommon round cella with polygonal ambulatory plan seems to be more typical of Western Gaul than elsewhere, as it is also found in examples at Saint-Gervais (Vendée) and Chassenon (Charente).^[3]

Related sites

A prospection of the Cantal département made by Alphonse Vinatié (1924–2005), a local archaeologist, made it possible to identify three other ancient sanctuaries in Landeyrat and Allanche,^[5] as well as possible sites in Celles, Charmensac, and Mauriac Vernols.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Mitton, Claire (8 April 2008). "The Arverni and Vellavi's sanctuaries outside the capitals, from the 1st Century BC to the 4th Century AD: a typological and a spatial approach". Revue archéologique du Centre de la France. Tome 45-46 (2006–2007). OpenEdition Journals. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Temple gallo-romain de type fanum". Ministère de la Culture. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Poursat, Jean-Claude (1979). "Circonscription d'Auvergne". Gallia. Tome 37 (fascicule 2): 472–474. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Tête de Méduse / Archéologie". Musée d'Aurillac. musees.aurillac.fr. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
^ Calbris, Maxime (24 February 2020). "Changes in Places of Worship in the Ancient Urban Zone at Mathonière, in Allanche (Cantal): An Analysis of Pedestrian, Arial, and Geophysical Surveys". Siècles (en ligne). 48 (2020). OpenEdition Journals. Retrieved 25 April 2020.

« Destruction à Aurillac du seul sanctuaire gallo-romain de Haute-Auvergne », Geneviève Charbonneau, 1979, in Revue Archéologia, n° 131, p. 36-53,
« Découverte d’un temple gallo-romain à Aurillac. Fouille de sauvetage à Lescudilier-Aron », Geneviève Degoul , 1977, in Revue de la Haute-Auvergne, p. 273-331,
« Les fouilles du fanum polygonal d’Aron », Odette Lapeyre, Régine Roche et Léonce Bouyssou, 1988, in Revue de la Haute-Auvergne, n° 51, p. 37-98. Première publication en 1985 dans la "Supplément" au Bulletin du Groupe de recherches historiques et archéologiques de la vallée de la Sumène.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox ancient site
  | name			=	Fanum d'Aron
- | native_name		=	''Fanum d'Aron''
+ | native_name		=
  | image		=	Fanum d'Aron, Aurillac 2.jpeg
  | map_type		=	France
  | relief		=	Yes
  | altitude_m		=	639
- | caption		=	The ruins of ''Fanum d'Aron'', circa 2014.
+ | caption		=	The ruins of Fanum d'Aron, {{circa|2014}}
- | coordinates		=	{{coord | 44.915716 | 2.421396
+ | coordinates		=	{{coord | 44.91978 | 2.43557
  | format		=	dms
  | display		=	inline,title}}
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
  | cultures		=	[[Arverni]], [[Gallo-Roman]]
  | epochs		=	[[Classical Antiquity]]
- | abandoned		=	[[3rd century|3rd century CE]]
+ | abandoned		=	3rd century CE
  | type			=	[[Fanum]] ([[Romano-Celtic Temple]])
  | height		=
- | diameter		=	18 m (59 ft)<ref name="RACF">
+ | diameter		=	approx. {{convert|18|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="RACF">
 {{
 cite journal
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
  | ownership		=	Private
  | excavations		=	1977 - 1978
- | built		=	[[1st century|1st century CE]]
+ | built		=	1st century CE
  | designation1		=	Monument historique
- | designation1_date	=	20 November 1980
+ | designation1_date	=	20 November 1980<ref name =MC/>
- | location		=	[[Aron]]{{dn|date=April 2020}}, [[Aurillac]], [[Cantal]], [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]], [[France]]}}
+ | location		=	[[Aurillac]], [[Cantal]], [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]], [[France]]}}
 '''Fanum d'Aron''' is a [[fanum]], or [[Romano-Celtic temple]], located in [[Aurillac]], a French commune in the [[Auvergne]] region.<ref name=MC>
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 | title = Temple gallo-romain de type fanum
 | accessdate = 25 April 2020
-| publisher = [[Ministère de la Culture]]
+| publisher = [[Ministry of Culture (France)|Ministère de la Culture]]
 }}
 </ref>
@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 | volume = Tome 37
 | issue = fascicule 2
-| pages = 472-474
+| pages = 472–474
 | date = 1979
 | url = https://www.persee.fr/doc/galia_0016-4119_1979_num_37_2_1616
@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 == History ==
-Salvage excavations have recovered a number of artifacts from the site, such as coins, eight [[acanthus (plant)|acanthus-leafed]] [[Classical_order#Elements|column capitals]] (four of which feature sculpted heads representing the Sun and Moon), as well as a fluted column barrel fragment and [[terracotta]] [[antefix|antefixes]].<ref name=CDA/> These objecs establish that the temple would have been in use from the [[first century|1st]] to [[third century|3rd centuries CE]].<ref name=RACF/><ref name=CDA/>
+Salvage excavations have recovered rich materials from the site, including lapidary pieces, glass and metallic artifacts,  coins, eight [[Classical order#Elements|column capitals]] (four of which feature sculpted [[trachyte]] heads representing the Sun and Moon), a fluted column barrel fragment, and ceramics as well as [[terracotta]] [[antefix]]es.<ref name=CDA/><ref name=MA>
+{{cite web
+ | url = http://musees.aurillac.fr/index.php/2017/06/19/tete-de-meduse/
+ | title = Tête de Méduse / Archéologie
+ | last =
+ | first =
+ | date =
+ | website = Musée d'Aurillac
+ | publisher = musees.aurillac.fr
+ | access-date = 29 April 2020
+ | quote = }}
+</ref> These objects establish that the temple would have been in use from the 1st to 3rd centuries CE.<ref name=RACF/><ref name=CDA/>
-Some artifacts and architectural elements from the site are kept on display at the Aurillac Museum of Art and Archeology (''[http://musees.aurillac.fr/index.php/2017/06/19/tete-de-meduse/ Le musée d'art et d'archéologie d'Aurillac]''), along with a model reconstruction of the fanum.
+Some artifacts and architectural elements from the site are kept on display at the Aurillac Museum of Art and Archeology,<ref name=MA/> along with a model reconstruction of the fanum.
 == Architecture ==
-The fanum's layout is a circular chamber ''([[cella]])'' surrounded by a sixteen-sided polygonal [[ambulatory]] or gallery. The angles of the polygon are marked by the bases of columns (eight of which are found in-place). The complex appears to have had a courtyard encircled by a perimeter wall that was discovered through sondage, towards the northwest. The wall is 55 meters (~180.5 ft) from the fanum, with a northwest-northeast orientation erected over a length of 84 meters (~275.6 ft). There is also vestiges of a partially exposed, square enclosure southeast of the fanum, whose sides are 29 meters (~95 ft) long.<ref name=RACF/><ref name=CDA/>
+The fanum is a circular chamber ''([[cella]])'' surrounded by a sixteen-sided polygonal [[ambulatory]] or gallery, which opens onto the [[Cère]] and [[Jordanne River]] valleys. The angles of the polygon are marked by the bases of fluted columns (eight of which are found in-place) bearing [[acanthus (plant)|acanthus-leafed]] [[Corinthian capitals]]. [[Terracotta]] [[antefix]]es found at the site give some indication of the roofing materials and design. The complex appears to have had a courtyard encircled by a perimeter wall that was discovered through [[sondage]], towards the northwest. The wall is {{Convert|55|m|ft|sp=us}} from the fanum, with a northwest-northeast orientation erected over a length of {{Convert|84|m|ft|sp=us}}. There are also vestiges of a partially exposed square enclosure with paved ground southeast of the fanum, whose sides are {{Convert|29|m|ft|sp=us}} long. The structure is speculated to perhaps have been an annex of the sanctuary, a shelter for receiving pilgrims, or even another fanum.<ref name=RACF/><ref name=CDA/><ref name=MA/>
 ''Fanum d'Aron'' appears uncommon in [[Arverni]] and [[Vellavi]] territory for having a polygonal rather than quadrangular ambulatory, and unique for the ambulatory being of sixteen sides. Another fanum found at [[Mauriac, Cantal|Mauriac]] (Cantal) can be compared for appearing to have had a round ''cella'' and decagonal ambulatory. This uncommon round ''cella'' with polygonal ambulatory plan seems to be more typical of Western Gaul than elsewhere, as it is also found in examples at [[Saint-Gervais, Vendée|Saint-Gervais]] (Vendée) and  [[Chassenon]] (Charente).<ref name=CDA/>
 == Related sites ==
-A prospection of the Cantal ''département'' made by Alphonse Vinatié (1924 - 2005), a local archaeologist, made it possible to identify three other ancient sanctuaries in [[Landeyrat]] and [[Allanche]]<ref name=SEL>
+A prospection of the Cantal ''département'' made by Alphonse Vinatié (1924–2005), a local archaeologist, made it possible to identify three other ancient sanctuaries in [[Landeyrat]] and [[Allanche]],<ref name=SEL>
 {{
 cite journal
@@ Line 95: / Line 106: @@
 | accessdate = 25 April 2020
 }}
-</ref>, as well as possible sites in [[Celles, Cantal|Celles]], [[Charmensac]], and [[Mauriac, Cantal|Mauriac]] Vernols.<ref name=RACF/>
+</ref> as well as possible sites in [[Celles, Cantal|Celles]], [[Charmensac]], and [[Mauriac, Cantal|Mauriac]] Vernols.<ref name=RACF/>
 == References ==
 {{reflist}}
-== Further Reading ==
-* « Destruction à Aurillac du seul sanctuaire gallo-romain de Haute-Auvergne », Geneviève Charbonneau, [[1979]], in ''Revue Archéologia'', n° 131, p. 36-53,
-* « Découverte d’un temple gallo-romain à Aurillac. Fouille de sauvetage à Lescudilier-Aron », Geneviève Degoul , [[1977]], in ''Revue de la Haute-Auvergne'', p. 273-331,
-* « Les fouilles du fanum polygonal d’Aron », Odette Lapeyre, Régine Roche et Léonce Bouyssou, [[1988]], in ''Revue de la Haute-Auvergne'', n° 51, p. 37-98. Première publication en 1985 dans la "Supplément" au ''Bulletin du Groupe de recherches historiques et archéologiques de la vallée de la Sumène''.
-=== See Also ===
+== Further reading ==
+* « Destruction à Aurillac du seul sanctuaire gallo-romain de Haute-Auvergne », Geneviève Charbonneau, 1979, in ''Revue Archéologia'', n° 131, p.&nbsp;36-53,
+* « Découverte d’un temple gallo-romain à Aurillac. Fouille de sauvetage à Lescudilier-Aron », Geneviève Degoul , 1977, in ''Revue de la Haute-Auvergne'', p.&nbsp;273-331,
+* « Les fouilles du fanum polygonal d’Aron », Odette Lapeyre, Régine Roche et Léonce Bouyssou, 1988, in ''Revue de la Haute-Auvergne'', n° 51, p.&nbsp;37-98. Première publication en 1985 dans la "Supplément" au ''Bulletin du Groupe de recherches historiques et archéologiques de la vallée de la Sumène''.
+=== See also ===
 * [[Arverni]]
 * [[Celtic polytheism]]
@@ Line 112: / Line 124: @@
 {{Celts|state=collapsed}}
 {{France topics}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Celtic archaeological sites]]
-[[Category:Celtic religion]]
+[[Category:Ancient Celtic religion]]
 [[Category:Gallo-Roman religion]]
-[[Category:Gauls]]
-[[Category:Averni]]
 [[Category:Roman sites in France]]
 [[Category:Ancient Roman temples]]
-[[Category:Archaeology of France]]
 [[Category:Monuments historiques of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]]

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Germany
Geographic	Mérimée