Beautiful marble slabs from the “ghost” temple of the ancient Nabataean Kingdom have been discovered off the coast of Pozzuoli in the Phlegrean Peninsula region of Campania, Italy.
According to a joint press release from Italy’s Minister of Civil Protection and Maritime Policies Nello Musumeci and Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano, two marble altars dating back to the early 1st century AD were announced as part of the temple complex built by the Nabataeans.
The “ghost” temple area belongs to Pozzuoli, also known as ancient Puteoli, which is currently submerged under the sea after 2,000 years of seismic and volcanic activity, causing part of the peninsula to sink below sea level.
This bustling trade hub of the Nabataeans boasted a magnificent temple dedicated to the region’s protective deity, Dusares, as reported by Heritage Daily.
The intact marble altar has helped scientists accurately locate the main temple within the religious complex.
In the released images, the marble altar appears with a striking white hue against the sandy sea floor, remaining intact and sharp, which Minister Sangiuliano referred to as “another treasure” of Puteoli.
These altars have assisted scientists in precisely determining the location of the “ghost” temple, as well as guiding them to discover additional thoroughfares, ancient trading ports, and royal buildings.
The Nabataean Kingdom, an ally of ancient Rome, once ruled a territory stretching from the Euphrates River to the Red Sea, acting as a bulwark between Rome and the desert tribes.
The capital of this ancient and powerful kingdom is Petra, a world-renowned marvel that remains stunning to this day and has been featured in films numerous times.
Thus, the relics from this kingdom continue to be an exciting discovery for archaeologists, showcasing the opulence, construction techniques, and technology that stood out compared to contemporary civilizations. According to Minister Sangiuliano, this new discovery further demonstrates the richness and vastness of trade, culture, and religion in the ancient Mediterranean basin.
