Living with gods

Around the Gallo-Roman sanctuary of the Gué-de-Sciaux

A sanctuary in the Roman Empire: the Gué-de-Sciaux (Antigny)

The city of the Gué-de-Sciaux had a theatre, Thermae and places of worship. It developed in districts on the Gartempe’s banks, covering around 61 acres and very close to the frontier between the Pictons’ city and the Bituriges Cubes’ one.

It was crossed from west to east by a road linking Lemonum (Poitiers) to Avaricum (Bourges).

In the south border of this way, in the heart of the agglomeration, a sanctuary spread on more than half an acre. Over the centuries, inhabitants celebrated the protective gods chosen by the local authorities.

At the end of the 1st century BC, ceremonies took place around a quadrangular building in dry stone, lined by a stony road. Currencies were thrown on the ground in sign of devotion. Some offerings were burnt and partially buried.

Around 20 AC, a centred plan temple, with a square cella* and a peripheral gallery, reoccupied the previous building.

Around thirty pits dug in the ground received deposits of meat, vases, amphoras, as evocations of the meals organised in the sanctuary to honour gods; many aliments were prepared and cooked on the spot.

Since the 2nd century AC, another temple, an altar and four little monuments have been built, thanks to the donations of the richest inhabitants.

The temple presented a classical plan and an architecture imitating the Mediterranean edifices; its western pediment was richly sculpted and decorated. Mercury and Apollo’s cults were celebrated in this era, as a Gallic sitting god.

During the second part of the 3rd century, three little square religious aedicules have been created whereas the interior and the surroundings of the gallery were still occupied.

These buildings have been destroyed between the end of the 3rd and the 4th centuries; a major part of the stone has been saved.

*Cella: a room forbidden to laymen, where the god’s statue was installed.