Troia / Tróia

INFORMATION

Font ID: 08455TRO
Object Type: Baptismal Font3?
Font Century and Period/Style: 4th - 5th century (?), Early Christian
Church / Chapel Name: Early Christian basilica, Tróia
Font Location in Church: In the ruins of the village
Church Address: Povoado romano de Tróia. Portugal, Setúbal, Portugal
Site Location: Setúbal, Área Metropolitana de Lisboa, Portugal, Europe
Directions to Site: Located near the mouth of the Sado river, just S of the Boca da Caldeira, near the modern church of Nossa Senhora de Tróia / Na. Sa. dos Prazeres
Historical Region: Alentejo litoral
Font Notes:
Fontain (1973-1977, t. 1: 409-410) relates that the identification of one of the structures in the ruins of the settlement of Tróia as a baptistery is a matter of debate and does not appear to have a firm base on archaeological evidence, since the same structure that has been suggested as baptistery is identified elsewhere as a 'columbarium' or a 'frigidarium'; perhaps even one that was at some point used for the purpose of baptism? Tróia appears to have been a busy fish-processing centre thriving in the production of 'salsamenta' and in the condiments 'garum', 'hallec' and 'muria', so popular in Roman cuisine. [cf. http://www.costa-azul.rts.pt/iromana/sado.html for a web site with general information on this settlement]

COORDINATES

UTM: 29S 510049 4259777
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 38.486273, -8.884778
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 38° 29′ 10.58″ N, 8° 53′ 5.2″ W

REFERENCES

  • Fontaine, Jacques, Art pré-roman hispanique, La Pierre-qui-vire, Yonne: Zodiaque, 1973-1977, t. 1: 409-410