MEN AND GODS, THE SEA AND THE SACRED
A documentary by MASSIMO D'ALESSANDRO
On the island of the Vieste lighthouse, a cave preserves hundreds of inscriptions left over the centuries. Archaeologists and researchers are trying to decipher a story in which the sea, fear, and the need for divine protection are constantly intertwined.
Opposite the town of Vieste, on the islet of Sant'Eufemia, stands one of the most important lighthouses in the Adriatic. Its light still guides ships along the Gargano promontory today. But long before the lighthouse was built, the island was already a landmark for those braving the sea. In the caves carved beneath its surface, sailors, pilgrims, and travelers left names, prayers, symbols, and invocations. More than two hundred inscriptions make up a narrative spanning many centuries.
The Sea as Danger and Hope
For the people of antiquity, the sea was not merely a route of communication. It was an unpredictable environment, dominated by winds, storms, and the fear of never returning. Before setting sail and after landing, sailors performed rituals and made offerings to the protective deities. Coasts, caves, and springs became places to ask for salvation or to give thanks for having survived the journey. On the island of Sant'Eufemia, some inscriptions seem to be addressed to Venus Sosandra, the goddess invoked as the "savior of men." But this is only the beginning of the story.
An Archaeological Investigation in the Heart of the Adriatic
After decades of incomplete studies, a group of archaeologists returns to the island to document the rock-cut complex. The documentary follows the various phases of the research:The rock surfaces present a complex pattern that is difficult to interpret.
- the excavation of the chambers;
- the surveying of the caves;
- the study of the inscriptions;
- the analysis of the artifacts;
- the exploration of the underground structures;
- archaeological surveys along the coast.
Ancient inscriptions overlap with medieval crosses, modern names, and marks left by the lighthouse keepers who lived on the island. Each engraving may belong to a different era and tell a different story.
From Ancient Uria to Today's Vieste
Roman sources mention a city called Uria on the Gargano promontory. According to many scholars, this could correspond to present-day Vieste. The evidence preserved on the lighthouse islet adds new elements to this hypothesis and allows us to view the city from an unusual perspective: that of the sailors who saw it appear after days at sea. For them, the promontory was not merely a stretch of coastline. It was a navigational marker, a potential harbor, and perhaps the promise of finally being safe.
A Sacred Geography Along the Sea Routes
The narrative gradually expands to other places along the Adriatic. Caves, bays, and headlands along the coasts of Apulia and Albania preserve inscriptions, dedications, and traces of ancient cults linked to navigation. These sites formed a sort of sacred geography, recognizable to those traveling along trade and military routes. Each landing site could be linked to a deity, a water source, or a protective ritual. The sea voyage thus also became a spiritual journey.
What do the inscriptions really tell us?
Some engravings are clearly legible. Others are barely visible, interrupted, or overlaid by more recent markings. On the cave walls, different languages, pagan and Christian symbols, people's names, and references to distant events emerge. The researchers' task is to distinguish the various phases, compare handwriting styles, and reconstruct the context in which each message was inscribed. Some inscriptions seem to link the island to figures and events that have shaped the history of the Adriatic. But their meaning is revealed only in the course of the investigation.
Archaeology on Land and Underwater
Vieste's maritime history is not preserved solely in caves. Amphorae, anchors, and sunken shipwrecks bear witness to the intensity of trade that once traversed this stretch of sea. The documentary also follows archaeologists underwater as they search for what remains of ancient trade routes. The Gargano coastline thus reveals itself as a vast, widespread archive, comprising land-based sites, seabeds, caves, and memories passed down over the centuries.
A Fragile Heritage
The inscriptions at Sant'Eufemia have been exposed to the elements, humidity, and human-induced changes. Some are now difficult to make out. Others are at risk of disappearing. The film therefore tells not only the story of an archaeological investigation but also of the need to protect and preserve this unique site. Understanding this heritage means restoring a part of its history to the city of Vieste and gaining a deeper understanding of the profound bond that has always linked humanity to the sea.
AWARDS:
- BEST DOCUMENTARY at the JHARKHAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024 (INDIA)
- AUDIENCE AWARD at the 2024 Cremona and Cavriana Archaeological Film Festival
- BEST DOCUMENTARY at the Ponza Film Festival 2024
FESTIVAL AND SCREENINGS:
- 14 October 2023, 6.00 pm, Festival of Communication and Archaeological Cinema, Licodia Eubea (Catania) – PREMIERE
- 9 March 2024: Archeofilm Florence
- 25 June 2024: Archeofilm Vieste
- 5 July 2024: Cremona and Cavriana International Archaeological Film Festival
- 13 July 2024: History Film Festival (Austria)
- 10 August 2024: Ierapetra Film Festival (Crete)
- 14 September 2024: Ponza Film Festival (Italy)
- 4 October 2024: RAM Film Festival Rovereto (Italy)
- 14 October 2024: Arkhaios Film Festival (USA)
- 31 October 2024: AEI Film Festival (Cyprus)
- 9 November 2024: International Archaeology Film Festival Split (Croatia)
- 13 November 2024 – FICAB – Bidasoa International Archaeological Film Festival (Spain)
- 5–21 December 2024: Jharkhand International Film Festival (India)
- 6 February 2024: ArcheoTICine 2024 Film Festival (Switzerland)
- 27 February 2024: Ogeechee International Film Festival (USA)
- 25 May 2025: 25th Belgrade International Film Festival
- 10 July 2025: Licata, RAM Festival Diffuso
- 19 July 2025: Palermo, RAM Festival Diffuso
CREDITS:
- Title: MEN AND GODS, THE SEA AND THE SACRED
- Author: Massimo D'Alessandro
- Produced by:
- A.S.S.O. (Underwater Archaeology and Speleology Organisation) ETS
- In collaboration with:
- University of Bari Aldo Moro
- University of Foggia
- with the support of the CHANGES Project
- Scientific consultants: Giuliano De Felice, Danilo Leone, Maria Turchiano, Giuliano Volpe
- Executive producers: Mario Mazzoli, Maria Teresa Pilloni
- Cinematography: Marco Vitelli
- Music: Edizioni Flipper Music
- Editing and direction: Massimo D'Alessandro
- Running time: 42 minutes
- Language: Italian
- Subtitles: English, French
- 2023
INTERVIEWS: