Ara della Regina, Etruscan temple ruins in Tarquinia, Italy.
Ara della Regina is an Etruscan temple complex situated on a hilltop with broad stone foundations and remnants of ancient columns. The site displays multiple construction phases with extended platforms and varying architectural elements from different periods.
The temple complex originated in the 6th century BC and underwent major transformation in the 4th century BC. This reshaping brought new platforms and altered the sanctuary's entire structure.
The temple housed a monumental cenotaph decorated with elaborate terracotta panels, including the famous Winged Horses now displayed in the National Museum. These artworks show how the Etruscans connected religious devotion with artistic expression.
The site is accessible through guided tours that lead through various areas and explain how Etruscan society used this location. It helps to wear sturdy shoes, as the hilltop is steep and the ground is uneven.
The temple displays funerary symbols and cremation imagery in its decorations, pointing to close connections between religious practices and hero worship. This mixing of death cult and sanctuary practices makes this location distinctive among Etruscan temples.
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