“Perhaps the need for accessible water for the rite of Baptism, or perhaps just the desire to erase pagan memory or to take control of sacred places, led various Christian communities to build their churches near or on the ruins of water temples.”…”However, the syncretism between old and new religions may not be taken for granted: more than a worship community, one might think of a historical continuity of human settlement through the centuries, with the reuse of the ancient sanctuary – having lost its sacred value for the community – as a mundane source of water supply, as well as a quarry for building materials, and even as an excellent foundation for new buildings. It is otherwise conceivable the overlap – centuries later and for completely different needs and functions – of a new building next to or on the ruins of the previous one.” (Excerpts from the book by Massimo Rassu: “Sacred Wells. Prehistoric Architectures for Water Worship in Sardegna” – Ed. Condaghes 2016).
The images of the water temples that have taken on the names of saints or are adjacent to a church refer to: S.Vittoria di Serri (Bibi Pinna); Coni a Nuragus (Pietrino Mele); S.Cristina di Paulilatino (Valentino Selis); Tattinu di Nuxis (Lucia Corda); S.Anastasia di Sardara (Francesca Cossu); Sant’Antonio di Segariu (Marco Cocco); Santa Maria di Illorai (Francesca Cossu); Santu Sarbadoi di Gonnosnò (Pietrino Mele).
