DEDICATION INSCRIPTION, C4-C3 BCE. MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO NAZIONALE DI TARANTO ΝΙΚΑΣΙΩΝ ΕΘ ΑΚΗ ΠΟΤ ΤΩΙ ΑΘ ΑΝΑΙΩΙ ΕΠΙ "Nikasion put (erected) near the Athenaion (for...? or on ...?)" This short Greek inscription, on a block of the local sandstone called carparo, comes from the Satyrion Archaeological Park, in Leporano Marina just south of Taranto, from the hill of the ancient Iapygian village that existed from at least the C7 BCE on this site. This became a Greek town with an acropolis, and in the C6 BCE a small temple was built on its slope, with its façade facing east. Almost none of this temple survives, but thanks to this inscription, discovered in 1990 during the removal of fortifications from the Second World War, we know it was dedicated to Athena. The site overlooks the Gulf of Taranto and the temple front would have been illuminated by the first light of dawn.

#EpigraphyTuesday takes us to the #MArTa in #Taranto, where a single brief inscription identifies the main temple of the #Greek village of #Satyrion. These tiny rare traces of vanished buildings help us understand the development of #MagnaGraecia. #AncientBluesky 🏺