A. CARUSO, ‘Riflessioni intorno al ginnasio di Taranto: contesto, fisionomia e funzioni’, in Nel segno di Archita. Scritti in memoria di Enzo Lippolis, a cura di R. Belli Pasqua e R. Sassu, Thiasos Monografie 18, Roma 2023: 79-99.

The gymnasium of Taranto is essentially known through a mention by Strabo, who defines it “very beautiful”. After that, Strabo mentions the agora. In the assumption that gymnasium and agora in Taranto were contiguous, first the Enzo Lippolis’ hypothesis on the position of the agora is accepted; secondly the proximity of the gymnasium is defended. The main argument is based on the Polybian tale of the Hannibalic war, in particular on the episode in the mouseion, in which neaniskoi took part. As regard for the architectural layout, the only available data is, again, the adjective used by Strabo. Based on known examples, the typical conformation of gymnasia is examined, and particular attention is paid to the case of Solunto, which represents a well-investigated complex, sharing with Taranto the period of use and the position next to the agora. In the hypothetical reconstruction of the gymnasium of Taranto, I propose that it occupied almost the entire area of the agora, and that it used the plateia, the main east-west street of the city, as the paradromis. On it the colossal statue of Zeus, with his back to the acropolis (according to L. Todisco), was standing as a meta, likewise that of Heracles could work on the acropolis, where the most solemn agonistic events could end. Finally, the military dimension, which is a typical feature of Hellenistic gymnasia, is underlined.