In the heart of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park , in the municipality of Sant’Angelo A Fasanella , there is a fascinating itinerary that leads to a mysterious sculpture known as Antece , from the dialect term meaning “the Ancient”. The path, easy to follow, winds for less than three kilometers there and back, with a difference in altitude of just one hundred meters , and is immersed in a forest full of oaks and chestnut trees that offer suggestive views in every season. Along the walk, which takes about an hour , it is possible to observe the variety of flora and fauna typical of this part of Cilento, appreciating the silence and the uncontaminated beauty of a place still little known by mass tourism.
Antece, a dive into an ancestral past
Once you arrive at your destination, you find yourself in front of Antece , the enigmatic rock statue about 1.60 meters high, carved directly into a block of stone. Scholars believe that it may date back to a period between prehistory and the Lucanian era , hypothesizing that it was originally a funerary monument . The figure, which some interpret as a warrior or a deified hero, wears a chiton and seems to be holding an axe (or a club) and a shield. The orientation towards the west reinforces the idea of a symbolism linked to the sunset or the cult of ancient divinities, making Antece one of the rare examples of rock art present in this area .
Not far from the statue you can see other elements that contribute to the charm of this place: a basin dug into the rock , probably used for ceremonies or sacrifices, and remains of polygonal walls that testify to the ancient frequentation of the site. According to some theories, the entire area could have been dedicated to religious or funerary rituals , in which the statue played an important role. Even today, Antece represents a fascinating archaeological enigma, capable of transporting anyone who reaches it into a remote past, in contact with beliefs and traditions that resist the passing of the centuries.
