Thapsos facts for kids
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Θάψος
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Thapsos had a large necropolis of cave tombs with vertical entrance shafts or dromos entry-corridors.
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 Location in Italy
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| Location | Priolo Gargallo, Province of Syracuse, Sicily, Italy |
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| Coordinates | 37°09′13″N 15°13′46″E / 37.15361°N 15.22944°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Ownership | Public |
| Management | Soprintendenza BB.CC.AA. di Siracusa |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi |
Thapsos (Greek: Θάψος) was an ancient village in Sicily. It existed during the middle Bronze Age, a time long before written history.
The famous Italian archaeologist Paolo Orsi discovered Thapsos. He found it on a small piece of land called the Magnisi peninsula, near a town called Priolo Gargallo. The special culture that grew here is known as the Thapsos culture. It was one of the most important ancient cultures in Sicily. Some people believe it was linked to the Sicani people.
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Discovering Thapsos
Thapsos is very important for two main reasons. First, it had a village that is thought to be the very first city in Sicily. Second, it had a large necropolis, which is like a big ancient graveyard. This necropolis was full of interesting tombs.
An Ancient Trading Hub
Historians believe Thapsos was a very advanced settlement. It showed signs of a sophisticated culture, possibly from the Mycenaean people. The Mycenaeans were an ancient Greek civilization.
The settlers at Thapsos built a well-planned town. It had streets that were up to four meters wide. The houses were large and built around courtyards.
Life in Thapsos
The tombs at Thapsos contained many items from ancient Greek lands. This suggests that foreign people, perhaps Mycenaeans, lived there. The way the houses were laid out in Thapsos is very similar to a town in Cyprus called Enkomi. This might mean there was a shared plan for building trading settlements across the ancient world.
Thapsos was also a center for making things. Many small containers for perfume, made in the Mycenaean style, have been found there. This suggests Thapsos produced perfumed oils to trade with other countries.
Who Lived There?
Even though there was a lot of foreign influence, Thapsos was not just a Mycenaean town. Archaeologists also found plenty of local pottery made in Sicilian styles. This tells us that Thapsos had a mixed population. Both local people and foreign settlers lived and worked together.
Thapsos as a Colony
The ancient Greek historian Thucydides wrote about Thapsos. He said that it was a colony founded by people from Megara. Megara was an important city in ancient Greece. These same people also founded other places like Trotilon and Megara Hyblaea.
See also
- Thapsos culture
