The subterranean wonder of the Celtic Hypogeum [Italy]

Ancient Origins ^ | November 27, 2014 | M R Reese

[SunkenCiv]

...Northern Italy's Friuli-Venezia Giulia... is located in the Eastern Alps, near Slovenia, and used to be an important regional power. Today, it is a quaint town, and many tourists are attracted to it as a medieval center. Julius Caesar founded Cividale in 50 B.C. The area had already been settled by the Veneti and Celts, but it was after the destruction of Aquileia and Iulium Carnicum that the town became known as Cividale and became the principal town of Friuli.

Within Cividale del Friuli is the Celtic Hypogeum -- a subterranean structure created for an unknown purpose. The Celtic Hypogeum consists of a series of underground passages, which have been divided into six chambers. The central chamber can be entered via a small, steep staircase. From there, the Hypogeum splits into three passageways leading to small rooms. Archaeologists have labeled the main chamber as chamber A, with the smaller chambers as B, C, D, and E.

A primordial technique was used to construct the hypogeum, as it was created by axe blows to the rock. Throughout the central chambers, passageways, and smaller rooms are niches and indentations of varying shapes and heights. Some scholars believe that the niches may have contained piles of bones, lending to the speculation that the Hypogeum was a burial site. Others believe that the site served as a jail, or place of imprisonment. There are further beliefs that the structure was used for religious ceremonies. Situated on the river Natisone, some believe that the Hypogeum began as a natural structure, which was then expanded upon. There is also a belief that some of the rooms functioned as tanks. Decorations found within the chambers include three supposed masks and three small pillars. These decorations lead to further speculation as to the purpose of the Hypogeum.

[SunkenCiv]

Entrance stairs in the main room of the Cividale Hypogeum. Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

[SunkenCiv]

[BenLurkin]

Bunker

[Squantos]

Was stationed in Aviano in the 70’s ...... consumed as much of the history as possible. Love that area at the foot of the Dolomites and the rest of the Alps.

Thanks for the read...

[VMI70]

Grain storehouse

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure!

[Chainmail]

Celt ping.

[Bigg Red]

:)

[Albion Wilde]

bump

[cloudmountain]

VERY interesting. I never knew that before.
I had to look up hypogeum!

[cloudmountain]

The Celts were one of the originals of Europe and Celtic was one of the original European languages.
However, the Celts were eventually driven westward and landed in Ireland. Now they say speaking "the Irish."

[Organic Panic]

As with most constructs in human history it is either for food or alcohol. Fornicating is pretty high on the list too but why would you go way down ib to a dungeon......?

[SunkenCiv]

I’d never heard of it before, either — not the term (it’s also used for monuments on Malta, I believe) but the Celtic origin of this one.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a cavern to begin with, that was altered by the Celts, or merely reused by them long after whomever altered it.

[cloudmountain]

I’d never heard of it before, either — not the term (it’s also used for monuments on Malta, I believe) but the Celtic origin of this one.

I learned about it in searching for the root languages of Europe. Celtic was one of them. But, the Teutonic, Greek and Latin languages survived in Europe and the Celtic language was forced to migrate and thereby disappear from the continent.

I've also visited Ireland a couple of times and heard "the Irish." It doesn't sound like ANYthing I had ever heard before.
But, I felt that way when I was in Serbia and attended a Mass (Roman Catholic, of course). The only thing I could understand was their version of Jesus Christ. The rest was jibberish to my ears.

[colorado tanker]

I guess we can rule out a man-cave since they didn’t have big screen TV’s back then.

[SunkenCiv]

The lack of big TVs probably explains those cave paintings.

[colorado tanker]

Won’t you come in and see my etchings?

[SunkenCiv]

;’)