21 Dec
The Menorca Talayotic Agency and Nurarq are organising three guided visits to the west taula enclosure of So na Caçana on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of December, when a very special archaeo-astronomical event will take place, which could indicate that the sun was one of the divinities of the Talayotic pantheon. The activity will recreate the original internal environment of the sanctuary, during the midday of the winter solstice. Due to the small size of the site, the number of participants is limited and tickets will be allocated by lottery. The deadline for participation begins on December 5 and ends on December 12.
On these dates, the sun's rays enter the building through a small window and illuminate a special place inside this taula enclosure where the figures of the divinities were located. For the Menorcans of the Talayotic period, this would represent a hierophany. In other words, the sun was one of the main divinities of the Talayotic pantheon and the penetration of its rays into the taula enclosure represented a manifestation of this divine entity.
Once the participants enter the taula enclosure, a detailed explanation of the phenomenon will be given, and its development will be observed with the accompaniment of one of the members of the team that discovered and documented this event. They will also explain what a taula enclosure is, what rituals have been documented inside it and the latest research and hypotheses on the symbolic world of the late Talayotic period.
During the course of the activity, we will have the opportunity to taste the winning dessert of the "El dolç talaiòtic" competition, inspired by the natural environment of Talayotic Menorca.
- Date: December 21, 22 and 23.
- Time: 1:30 p.m.
- Place: So na Caçana, Alaior.
- Limited capacity: Tickets to attend the So na Caçana archaeo-astronomic event will be allocated in a raffle open to all citizens. Those interested in participating should send an email to solsticitalaiotic@gmail.com indicating the day they prefer to attend the activity and explaining very briefly the reason. The deadline for participation begins on December 5 and ends on December 12 at midnight.