Water for Athena: votive gifts at Lagaria (Timpone della Motta, Francavilla Marittima, Calabria)

The remains of monumental timber temples on the Acropolis of the Timpone della Motta from the end of the eighth century bc are the first temples on Italian soil. They are constructed on the remains of dwellings from the eighth century bc, among others a House of Weaving belonging to an aristocratic Enotrian clan, buried nearby. Comparisons between the fills of this house, rich female tombs and normal huts make it likely that it was used for a cult related to wool, perhaps weaving festivals. In early seventh-century bc timber temples a goddess of weaving, probably Athena, was still venerated, but contacts with Greeks brought a new cult practice, related to the legend of Epeios, creator of Troy’s wooden horse. The thousands of hydriskai (small water jugs) and cups found on the Acropolis, show that people imitated Epeios, hoping for Athena’s help, which he received because he carried water to the Greek kings during the Trojan War. The water cult for Athena and her artisan-hero identifies the sanctuary as that at Lagaria.