L'Italo-Americano
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014
www.italoamericano.com
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es, built in Sardinia during the
Nuragic Age (18
th
century BC to
2
nd
century AD).
The exact dating of these stun-
ning
artworks, created by the
Nuragic civilization inhabiting
the island, is still uncertain but
probably between the 11
th
and
8
th
century BC. This makes them
among
the most ancient anthro-
pomorphic sculptures of the
Mediterranean area, along with
the Egyptian statues and the
Greek kouroi.
According
to the experts, the
site of Monte Prama where the
mysterious and fascinating
Giants were found was a funer-
ary and monumental area cele-
brating
the Nuragic aristocracy.
The area's size and the remark-
able quantity of statues, nuraghe
models, tombs, and sacred stones
(betyls) suggest a wealthy and
technically
advanced society,
maintaining political and cultural
contacts with other
Mediterranean populations. The
strategic location on top of a hill
may
also symbolize power over
the Island to scare away potential
enemies.
The Kolossoi – as the colossal
sculptures were named by
renowned archaeologist
Giovanni Lilliu - were presum-
ably meant to be heroic warriors
honoring or defending the graves
The mysterious Giants of Monte Prama have returned to life
The Giants of Monte Prama finally on view at the Archaeological Museums in
Cagliari and Cabras
Continued
from page 1
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of leading figures from the com-
munity, and therefore they were
carved holding their bows or
shields. Between 2 and 2.5
meters
tall, they show human
traits mixed with cryptic symbol-
ism, like the eyes consisting of
two concentric circles or the tiny
tight mouth.
Many
aspects still need to be
investigated by historians and
archaeologists, but the recovery
and restoration of the giant arti-
facts remain a milestone
achievement
that sheds light on
the ancient history of that geo-
graphic area.
The turnout of visitors who
attended the openings in Cabras
and
Cagliari on March 22, 2014,
was unexpectedly high. Both
exhibitions also feature an inno-
vative multimedia system, pro-
vided by the interdisciplinary
research
center CRS4, that
allows a closer look at the sculp-
tures and shows details in 3D
and life size. As undersecretary
of the Italian Ministry of
Cultural
Heritage Francesca
Barracciu explained, this is an
example of the authorities' com-
mitment not only to restore
Italy's infinite artistic treasures
but also to increase their value
and allow them to be enjoyed by
national and international
tourists.
