Solunto. La Casa delle Ghirlande

Abstract

This study focuses on the archaeological and architectural analysis of the so-called "Casa delle Ghirlande" in Solunto, an ancient Hellenistic-Roman city located in Sicily. The investigation aims to contextualize the dwelling within the broader urban fabric of Solunto and explore its spatial organization, decorative elements, and cultural implications. Particular attention is given to the articulation of interior and exterior boundaries, as well as to the symbolic and functional significance of thresholds, entrances, and visual axes. Through the examination of architectural features, decorative motifs such as garland friezes, and ritual furnishings like arulae and thymiatéria, the article proposes an interpretation of the house as both a domestic space and a locus of social representation. The research contributes to the ongoing discourse on the interaction between public and private spheres in ancient Mediterranean contexts, emphasizing how architectural design reflects and negotiates notions of frontier and boundary.