ProQuest Dissertations - Historia Antigua

disappointment manifested itself nine years later, when the Pisans asked Rome for acommission to verify that the colonists were not exceeding their land allotments. 44Thus, Luna was a port torn between three worlds: that of the Etruscan-derivedPisans, the warlike Ligurians, and the newly settled Roman colonists. This is theaudience for the two temples which were built within the first decades of the founding ofthe colony. The deities worshipped in the Grand Temple are not attested by inscription,but the attribution to Diana is fairly certain based on archaeological evidence found at thetemple. First, the pedimental sculptures show a seated goddess with one breast bared. 45The goddess is flanked by an Apollo figure on the left and an unidentified male figure tothe right; this third figure might be a Dionysus or Liber figure, which would suggest apossible ideological link with Delphi. 4Within the temple, archaeologists also foundgilded bronze torches, similar to those held by Artemis Phosphoros at Delos. Byappropriating the Mediterranean depictions of the goddess, the builders of the temple mayhave meant to appeal to travelers, who came to the port of Luna for commercial purposes.Finally, the temple is located on the highest spot in the colony, which is the naturallocation for the eponymous deity, Luna. Thus it is fairly certain that the Grand Templehonored Diana as Luna.If this attribution is correct, several associations become clear. First, the earlymagistrates of the colony reinforced their patronage ties with Aemilius through dedicatingLivy 45.13.10.See Fontana (1997), pp. 265-6, figg. 74-78.Strazzula(1992),p. 170.206