Fieldtrip Program
Two days excursion in Taormina and Selinunte (12-13/06/2004) with the following program:
12/06/2004. Visit to the Taormina archaeological site.
Taormina is located in the northeastern part of Sicily (approximately at 50km from Catania). This settlement was founded in 4th century BC by the colonists of Naxos. The buildings that we will visit are: the Greek-Roman Theatre, the Odeon, the Roman bath and the Naumachie.
As for the dimensions, the Theatre is the second of Sicily after that of Syracuse. It was built in the 3rd century BC by the Greeks with blocks of lava. It displays a well preserved cavea, a circular orchestra (the flat area for actors and the stage), a scene building. It is 50 m wide, 120 m long and 20 m high. The cavea had many steps for seating in the wedges and the scene building still preserves its original shape. Different phases of construction and reconstruction took place from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd-4th century AD. According to Wilson (1990) the theatre suffered an earthquake in the 4th century AD that caused the collapse of the portico and of some structural elements of the scene building.
The Odeon was built during the imperial period (2nd century AD) by the Romans. Its scaena leant against an older temple, whose remains were partially covered by the S. Caterina church.
The Roman bath was also built in the imperial period. Its remains are related to three juxtaposed big rooms and a few smaller rooms defining a structure elongated towards south.
Naumachie. The building was identified as a monumental nymphaeum (or gymnasium?). It is a single-room structure, 122 m long, 5 m high and characterised by 18 apsidal openings.
Departure from Taormina to Palermo and overnight stay in the town.
Please note that people planning to leave from the Catania airport on 12th June can arrange the departure since 3.00-3.30 p.m (after the lunch in Giardini Naxos). A coach will be available for the transport to the Catania airport. The last plane from Catania to Rome and Milan is at about 9.00 p.m.
13/06/2004. Visit to the Selinunte archaeological site.
The archaeological site of Selinunte is located in the southwestern part of Sicily. The settlement was founded by the colonists of Megara Hiblea in the 7th century BC. It is one of the largest archaeological parks in the Mediterranean area and covers an area of 270 hectares.
Our attention will be focused on those temples that still show evidence of strong earthquakes. Two buildings preserve evidence of seismic destruction. The temple C displays columns fell with a domino style arrangement towards north. Some of the columns fell above a Roman house of the IV-VI century AD. Presently, only one column is still preserved in a collapsed position. All the other columns were restored, though photographs of the collapsed columns are available. The second temple, called temple M, collapsed during an earthquake of the IV century BC. The blocks belonging to the upper triangular part of the western wall were found on the ground preserving their initial arrangement. This suggests that the blocks fell due to an abrupt horizontal push with a N-S direction.
Departure from Selinunte to Palermo and transfer to the Catania airport.
Transfer to Messina.
Please note that leaving from the Palermo airport will be possible after the fieldtrip in Selinunte, since about 3.00 p.m. A coach will be available for the transport to the Palermo airport. The last flight from Palermo to Rome is at about 7.00 p.m.
We suggest to all the participants to arrive and leave Sicily from the same airport. The price of the plane ticket is much more expensive in case of arrival at the Catania airport and departure from the Palermo airport.
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