Hellenistic braziers in the far West. Introduction, functionality and potential uses

Abstract

In recent years, in the city of Cadiz (Spain), there have been a number of archaeological works that are providing evidences of an influence of Hellenistic origin related to religious rituals chthonic character. One aspect still poorly understood and that is reflected especially in the second century BC This paper tries to demonstrate the existence of this influence through the presence of fragments of figurative Kilbanos at the site of the “Bishop's House” and the area occupied by the necropolis (digging “Cuarteles de Varela”). In the Bishop's House it has been documented near a Punic architectural space which dates back to the late sixth century BC, when it was constructed a memorial where an individual of great social relevance is buried. These pieces appear, exactly, in an open space where aromatic offerings and ritual banquets deposited in pits have been documented. Such use had to have the one appeared in the necropolis, also linked to a large pit where waste from the various funeral ceremonies carried out next to the burials were deposited. It is indicative, for the study of cults in Gades in the second century BC, the use of these cooking stands as portable altars for the preparation of "rituals meals," as it has been documented in religious spaces as the sanctuary of Apollo Carneios in Cnidos.