Roquepertuse

Roquepertuse. The pillars of the portico, with cavities designed for receiving skulls. III-II B.C. Musée d'archéologie méditerranéenne in Marseille.

Acropolis Roquepertuse is a historical religious center for the Celts. It is located near the city of Velaux and Marseille in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur région of southern France. Roquepertuse had no domiciles available for worshippers and has been used as a sanctuary where only priests may have lived permanently. It was destroyed by the Romans in 124 BC and was discovered in 1860. Most of the excavations were done in 1923 by H. de Gérin-Ricard.

Findings

Officially, the findings have been dated to the 3rd century BC. This age has been established based on Celtic expansion into the area, which took place around the same time. However, the clothing and gestures of certain statues found at the site suggest that they date from the 5th or 6th century BC, instead. These statues are distinguished by their unique seated position, comparable to the upright and cross-legged seated position found in statues depicting the Buddha.

1. dualfaced, androgyne sculpture, named: Hermes (0,2 m high)
2. columns with a few cavities for human skulls
3. statues in Buddha-like sitting position (0,62 m high)

External links

• Photographs: http://velinet.free.fr/cult/roquepertuse2.htm
• Finding location: http://velinet.free.fr/cult/roqhabitat.htm
• Finding location: http://velinet.free.fr/cult/roquepertuse.htm

Literature

(in French)

1. Le sanctuaire préromain de Roquepertuse à Velaux, by Henri de Gérin-Ricard (Marseille, 1929)
2. L'art primitif méditerranéen de la vallée du Rhone, by Fernand Benoit (1955)
3. Art et dieux de la Gaule, by Fernand Benoit (1969)