Torre dels Escipions facts for kids
Quick facts for kids UNESCO World Heritage Site |
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| Official name | Tower of the Scipios |
| Location | Tarragona, Spain |
| Part of | Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iii) |
| Inscription | 2000 (24th Session) |
| Area | 0.08 ha (8,600 sq ft) |
The Torre dels Escipions is an ancient Roman tower located near Tarragona, Spain. It was built long ago as a special place to honor people who had passed away. This tower is a significant part of the Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco, which is a collection of Roman ruins in the area. Because of its importance, UNESCO has recognized it as a World Heritage Site. The tower itself has a special code: 875-010.
History of the Tower
This tower was built around the 1st century AD, which means it's about 2,000 years old! It stands about six kilometers (almost 4 miles) from the ancient city of Tarraco. Tarraco was a very important Roman city and the capital of a region called Hispania Citerior.
The tower was built right next to the Via Augusta. This was a major Roman road that stretched across the entire Iberian Peninsula, from the Pyrenees mountains all the way to Gades (which is now Cádiz). The Torre dels Escipions is one of the most important Roman burial monuments still standing in Spain today.
What the Tower Looks Like
The Torre dels Escipions is a tall, tower-shaped monument. It has three main levels, or floors, that get a little smaller as they go up. The tower is built using large, rectangular stone blocks.
On the middle level, you can see two carved pictures, called reliefs. These carvings show the god Attis, who was an important deity from a place called Phrygia. Attis was linked to ideas of death and coming back to life. On the same level, there's also a small room inside the tower. This room was a burial chamber, where items belonging to the person who died would have been placed. The base of the tower measures about 4.40 by 4.70 meters (around 14.4 by 15.4 feet).
Why It's Called "Scipios' Tower"
The tower's name, "Torre dels Escipions" (Tower of the Scipios), comes from a mistake made many years ago. For a long time, people thought the two carved pictures on the tower were of the Scipio brothers, Publius and Gnaeus. However, we now know that these carvings actually show the god Attis.
See also
In Spanish: Torre de los Escipiones para niños
