Nello 'spazio sonoro' del telaio: suoni del sacro e danza per la tessitura

This study explores the intrinsic relationship between musical activities, choreography, and ritual practices in the ancient world, focusing on the sensory and symbolic dimensions of weaving. Adopting an archaeomusicological perspective, the research investigates how sounds and rhythmic movements were not merely accessories but essential components of ritual actions performed in sacred spaces to communicate with the divine. The core of the analysis centers on the site of Timpone della Motta at Francavilla Marittima (ancient Lagaría), where the iconic "Goddess of Sybaris" pinakes (c. 650-640 BC) provide a unique case study. These terracotta tablets depict ritual dances on the embroidered garment of a goddess, identified as Athena Ergane, the patroness of weaving. The article proposes that the loom itself functioned as a "sonic laboratory," where the mechanical sounds of the weaving tools, combined with work songs and rhythmic gestures, created a specific ritual soundscape. Furthermore, the archaeological record—including loom weights, spindles, and "sonic" objects such as rattles and bronze pendants found in both sanctuary and funerary contexts like the Macchiabate necropolis—suggests the use of "ringing garments". These ornaments, which transformed women into "sounding-rattles" (donna-sonaglio) during movement, played a crucial role in public ceremonies and rites of passage. By integrating iconographic evidence with material finds, this contribution highlights how textile production and performative arts co-created shared symbolic values and intense multisensory religious experiences in ancient South Italian communities.