Santuário de Panóias

About

The Panóias Sanctuary, also called "Fragas de Panóias", is located in Vale de Nogueiras, in the municipality of Vila Real, Portugal, a few kilometres from the city. Its construction dates back to the end of the 2nd century - early 3rd century AD.

The sanctuary is an enclosure with three large rocks, where several cavities of various sizes were opened and access stairs were also built.

On the rock located at the entrance of the enclosure, several inscriptions were engraved - three in Latin and one in Greek, describing the ritual celebrated, the gods to whom it was dedicated and who it dedicated.

One of them was destroyed in the last century, but it was reconstituted from previous readings and records.

The missing inscription, in Latin, was located 6/7 meters east of the second inscription, on the right side of the path where you enter the sacred area. The text would be oriented to the rock at the entrance of the enclosure and said the following:

DIIS (loci) HVIVS HOSTIAE QVAE CA / DVNT HIC INMOLATVR / EXTRA INTRA QVADRATA / CONTRA CREMANTVR / SANGVIS LACICVLIS IVXTA / SVPERE FVNDITV

" To the Gods and Goddesses of this sacred place. The victims sacrifice themselves, and are killed in this place. The viscera are burned in the square cavities in front. Blood is poured here to the side for the small cavities. It was established by Gaius C. Calpurnius Rufinus, a member of the senatorial order. "

For the rock at the entrance, you go up some steps, and before going up, on the left, you will find the second inscription:

DIIS CVM AEDE / ET LACV M. QVI / VOTO MISCETVR / G(neus) C(aius) CALP(urnius) RUFI / NVS V(ir) C(larissimus)

" To the gods, with the Aedes and the pond, the subterranean passage, which is joined by vote. "

" GC Calpurnius Rufinus consecrated within the temple (temple understood as sacred precinct), an aedes, a sanctuary, dedicated to the Severe Gods. "

The vestiges of one of the small temples existing in the enclosure remain. Climbing the stairs and passing to the other side of the rock, you will find the third inscription:

DIIS DEABVSQVE AE / TERNVM LACVM OMNI / BVSQVE NVMINIBVS / ET LAPITEARVM CVM HOC TEMPLO SACRAVIT / G(neus) C(aius) CALP(urnius) RVFINVS V(ir) C(larissimus) / IN QVO HOSTIAE VOTO CREMANTVR

" To all the gods and goddesses, to all the divinities, especially those of the Lapiteas, I dedicate this eternal pool, with this temple, Gaius v. Calpurnius Rufinus, enlightened man, in which victims are burned by vote. "

" To the Gods and Goddesses and also to all the divinities of the Lapitaes, Gaius C. Calpurnius Rufinus, a member of the senatorial order, consecrated a cavity with this sacred enclosure forever, in which the victims were burned following the rite. "

This inscription reveals that the enclosure is dedicated not only to the Severe Gods but also to the Gods of the Lapitae, gods of the indigenous community that would exist in the region.

In front we have the fourth inscription (in Greek):

" The enlightened male Caio Calpúrnio Rufino, son of Caio, consecrated, together with a pond and the mysteries, (a temple) to the highest god Serápis. "

" To the highest Serápis, with Destiny and Mysteries, GC Calpurnius Rufinus, very clear. "

The senator consecrated the sacred precinct to the main divinity of the gods of Hell, the Most High Serápis, including a gastra and mysteries. Gastra, a round cavity, is immediately behind the inscription. Its function in the ritual would be to roast the victim's meat, which was consumed on the spot, in front of the name of the deity.