Hercules' Sanctuary in the Quarter of St Theodore, Pula

Hercules’ Sanctuary in the Quarter of St. Theodore in Pula' deals with many aspects of the Roman sanctuary erected at the spring in Pula as well as with objects of cult dated to the Hellenistic period. The site was in use from the late fourth century BC to the fall of the Western Roman Empire, a date that approximately coincides with the demolition of the temple. Research focuses on Roman foundations which trace the ground plan of the temple that was surrounded by portico. Architectural fragments found at the site, as well as those kept in the collection of Pula Museum, were used to form proposals for a hypothetical reconstruction of the temple. The discovery of a relief club is the only reliable link with a particular deity i.e. Hercules. The continuity of the cult of Hercules has been recognised at the spring from the Histrian to Roman periods. Hercules was considered a founder and patron of the Roman colony of Pola. Nearness of the assumed umbilicus of the colony offers additional reasons to reconsider sacred rituals of the foundation of the colony. Traces of ritual desacralization, purification and storing of sacrificial remnants could be recognised at the site. A hypothetical reconstruction of the Roman sanctuary is followed by calculations of construction costs.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: The Late Republican sanctuary – The Hercules sanctuary area before the foundation of the Roman colony

Chapter 3: Hercules, hero and protector of the source – Sacrificial offerings at the time of the construction of the sanctuary

Chapter 4: Plan of the sanctuary of Hercules – Models and interpretation

Chapter 5: Architectural decoration

Introduction

I. Architectural elements found in the archaeological excavations in the St Theodore Quarter in Kandler street (Block XVI, Location XI) 2005-2009

II. Architectural elements from the Roman collection of the Archaeological Museum of Istria found before 2005

Chapter 6: Construction of Hercules’ sanctuary – Economical aspects, import of amphorae and senatorial dynasties

Bibliography