GROTTE DI TORRI

Location: near Stallone, Rieti, Lazio (Italy) — 42.2021 N, 12.6716 E

Dating: 2nd century BC

Characteristics: Remains of polygonal walls forming a large rectangular circuit at the hilltop site. Today, the only visible stretch is supporting a modern house and backed by a Roman era grotto. A peculiar feature of the site is a triple phalic symbol on a corner block of the wall. Another notable feature of the polygonal wall are small slits positioned at equal intervals along the wall. This particular feature can also be seen at other polygonal walls found throughout the southern coast of Turkey.

Polygonal classification: Types II-III (Lugli)

Attribution: It is attributed to local Italic peoples (Cures Sabini) before Roman expansion.

Specific points to see:

• Villa Romana “Grotte di Torri” (private residence) – polygonal wall and stone corner block with three phalluses