The Punic-Roman Sanctuary of Ras il-Wardija at Gozo (MALTA): Architecture, Rituals, and Mediterranean Connections of a Maritime Cult-Place dedicated to Astarte

Abstract

In a picturesque and natural setting at the north-western tip of the Island of Gozo, the sanctuary of Ras il-Wardija in Gozo stands as one of the most scenic Punic-Roman sacred sites in the Maltese archipelago. Founded by the Carthaginians in the early 4th cent. BCE, it was used without any interruption during the Roman period and beyond, maintaining its religious significance until the Middle Ages. Sixty years after its discovery and excavation by the Missione Italiana a Malta, the Sapienza Archaeological Mission to Gozo has resumed work and research on the site, highlighting some aspects related to the cults and rituals performed at the sanctuary, which make it an important reference point for the cult of Astarte in the Maltese archipelago.