Tomb of Giganti

The tombs of the giants ( Tomb of Giganti ) are funerary monuments of the Nuragic area. The majority of these stone funerary colossi were found in Sardinia and constitute one of the most fascinating testimonies of the glorious period of the Nuraghes.

The history of the Tomb of the Giganti

The construction of Tomb of Giganti dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. These are secondary type collective burials: the bodies of the dead were buried after their decomposition. These structures are called giants' tombs because, according to one legend, huge bones were found inside.

The structure of Tomb of Giganti is very special. Indeed, its layout is reminiscent of the snout of a bull, the interior is made up of a single piece and the exterior facade is made up of vertical stones sunk into the ground and arranged in a semi-circle, precisely recalling the shape of the horns of a bull. bull.

The bull was a very important animal for the Nuragics because it symbolized the masculine divinity. It was therefore a symbol of strength and power. However, the shape of the Giants' tombs also recalls the female organ and death was therefore probably seen as a conjunction between the Mother Goddess and the Taurus God, a union in the rebirth of the afterlife of the principles of generation of men and women.

However, all these explanations remain only hypotheses. The Nuragics did not leave written testimonies and the real symbol of their tombs remains in part, and will perhaps remain forever, a fascinating mystery.

According to some theories, the tombs of the giants have a correspondence with "energy channels": in particular, the tomb of Mizzani, near Palau, has become a pilgrimage destination for those who want to benefit from the strong natural magnetism which surrounded.

Ancient secrets and new enigmas help perpetuate the myth tombs of the giants.

Tomb of Giganti in the north and center of Sardinia

There are a large number of Tomb of Giganti in the north and center of Sardinia. The territory of Arzachena, where the famous Emerald Coast is also located, includes three tombs of the giants. These are Coddu Vecchiu, near the nuraghe of Prisgiona, and those of Capichera and Li Lolghi.

Staying in the historic area of Gallura, it is also possible to visit the tomb of the giants of Pascaredda, 3 km from the town of Calangianus. In Olbia there is the tomb of Mont'e s'Abe, restored in the 70s. In the hinterland of Alghero, 17 km from the village of Villanova Monteleone (province of Sassari), there is the tomb of the giant from Laccaneddu, near the Lacanu river.

Continuing towards the center of Sardinia, we find numerous archaeological sites where it is possible to visit the tombs of the giants. For example, the tomb of the Imbertighe giants stands on the basalt plateau of Abbasanta, in the Nuoro area. The structure is very well preserved and therefore represents one of the most beautiful Nuragic tombs in Sardinia.

Two graves are found at Dorgali, Biristeddi and S'Ena and Thomes. One of the oldest collective burials still stands in Nuoro Province, the Osono Giants' Tomb in Triei. In the country of Oristano, in the territory of Paulilatino, there is found the tomb of the giants of Goronna.

The tombs of the giants in southern Sardinia

Even in the south of the island Sardinian, there is no shortage of nuragic complexes with giant tombs.

On the Sette Fratelli mountain range, in the territory of the town of Quartucciu (province of Cagliari) there is the tomb of the giants of Is Concias, where it is possible to observe the so-called facade of sons (similar to the nuraghes) , typical of the funerary buildings of the southern Nuragic tribes.

In the province of southern Sardinia (Sud Sardegna), there are three large burials of the giants. These are Su cuaddu 'e Nixias in Lunamatrona, Sa Domu' e S'Orcu in Siddi and Barrancu Mannu in Santadi.