Le armi dal santuario di Demetra Thesmophoros a Bitalemi

From the excavation of the sanctuary dedicated to Demeter Thesmophoros at Bitalemi (Gela), a very small quantity of iron weapons has been recovered, seven in all, including thrown weapons and dagger blades. These pieces were offered during the first phase of frequentation of the sacred area, from the last quarter of the 7th to the middle of the 6th century BC. The few finds, regularly offered over time, make it difficult to suggest that even in Bitalemi the dedication of weapons had a significant role in the ritual, as proposed for other contexts sacred to Demeter. They require therefore a different explanation, which can be related to their use also for different functions, as for example instead of knives or skewers during the sacrifices and the following ritual meals.