Sanctuary of Astarte, Tas-Silg
About
Maltese hilltop sanctuary with four thousand years of sacred use, from a Neolithic megalithic temple through a Phoenician shrine to Astarte and finally a Roman-era temple of Juno. Cicero denounced governor Verres in 70 BCE for looting ivory tusks the sanctuary displayed as an offering, proof of its reach. Sailors and even pirates respected the shrine's sanctity passing Malta's coast. By 117 CE the temple had worshipped Juno, heir to Astarte's identity, for two centuries.
What happened here
A sanctuary is a precinct, not a building — an enclosed area with a boundary that matters legally. Inside it, rules apply: certain acts are forbidden, debtors and runaways may claim protection, and in some the birth or death of anyone is not permitted. Pilgrims arrive on foot, sometimes over days, and there is accommodation, water, and a market selling exactly what they need to offer. Priesthoods are local and hereditary or annual and political depending on the place. Treasuries hold the accumulated gifts of centuries, catalogued on stone. Festivals draw crowds from a whole region and bring games, contests and trade with them. Between festivals the place is quiet, staffed by a caretaker and visited by a trickle of travellers.
Sources
Nearby
Roman Maps shows the empire frozen at 11 August 117 CE, the day Trajan died — its moment of greatest territorial extent. Explore the full map →