Graeco-Roman Astro-Architecture: The Temples of Pompeii (PPT slides revised 1 June 2014)
Transcript of Graeco-Roman Astro-Architecture: The Temples of Pompeii (PPT slides revised 1 June 2014)
Graeco-Roman Astro-Architecture:
The Temples of Pompeii
Vance Tiede
Astro-Archaeology Surveys, Inc
Presented at Historical Astronomy Division, AAS Meeting, Washington, DC
6 January 2014 (revised 1 June 2014)
Horologium
Temple of Apollo
Winter Solstice Sun Set
Temple of Fortuna
Augusta
Equinox Sun Set
Temple of Isis
Vitruvius: Principles
of Astro-Architecture
• “…[O]ne who professes himself as an architect should be…acquainted with
astronomy and the theory of the heavens. (I:i:3)
• “From astronomy we find the east, west, south, and north, as well as the theory of the
heavens, the equinox, solstice and courses of the stars. If one has no knowledge of these
matters, he will not be able to have any comprehension of the theory of sundials (horologia).
(I:i:10, cf. IX:I in toto)
• “By means of optics, again, the light in buildings can be drawn from fixed quarters
of the sky. (I:i:4)
• “…in the case of hypaethral edifices, open to the sky, in honour of Jupiter Lightning,
the Heaven, the Sun or the Moon: for these are gods whose semblances…we behold
before our very eyes in the sky when it is cloudless and bright. (I:ii:5)
-Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (d. ca. 15 BC), De Architectura Libri Decem
Horologium
Pompeii
“The quarter toward which temples of the immortal gods ought to face is to be determined on the principle that…the temple…
should face the western quarter of the sky. This will enable those who approach the altar with offerings or sacrifices to face the direction of the sunrise in facing the statue in the temple….”
-Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (d. 15 BC),
De Architectura Libri Decem, IV:v:1
Vitruvius: West- Facing Rule
of Temple Orientation
Theory vs. Praxis The number of Roman temples oriented
according to the precepts of Vitruvius hardly exceeds
one quarter. It is true that other texts refer to an
orientation of the temples to the south: it must come
from an Italo-Etruscan tradition. Take, for example, the
temple of Apollo in Circo (Flaminio), the Bellone, the
first Pantheon of Agrippa, or the temples of Fortuna
and Mater Matua the Area Sacra Sant'Omobono.
(Le Bœffle 1989, 107; cf. Varron, Langue Latine, 7,7; Varron chez Festus, 454L.; Tite-Live, 1, 18, 6-8)
North-Facing
Temple Orientation Die Natalis (21 April)
Pantheon, Rome
Hannah, Robert and Giulio Magli, “The Role of the Sun in the Pantheon’s Design & Meaning,”
Numen 58(4), 486-513, 2011
The
Emperor
emerged in a
solar spot
light at
Meridian
Transit.
Greek Temple Orientation
Nell, Erin A. Greece's Debt to Egypt: the transmission of astronomical knowledge
applied to architectural alignments, PhD. Dissertation, University of Leicester, 2013
Proposed Preliminary Alignment Group Patterns:
I) Procyon ( CMi) and Aldebaran ( Tau) (E or
W), with either Hadar ( Cen) or Mimosa ( Cru)
(SSE or SSW), or both. (n=6)
II) Equinox (E or W) with Betelgeuse ( Ori) (E or
W) and Hadar ( Cen) or Mimosa ( Cru) (SSE or
SSW), or both. (n=6)
III) a small group of singular alignments. (n = 6)
Hypotheses: Temple Orientation
H1: Random
H2: Vitruvius only applies to Roman temples
H3: Urban Street Grid/”Landscape” (= Mt. Vesuvius)
H4: Astro-Ritual (Equinox/Solstice/Star rise/set)
T. Apollo, Pompeii Pantheon, Rome
Reject H1:
Roman agrimensores & gromatici
Systematically Surveyed Urban Grids
Groma, Perpendiculum & Signa
(Transit, Plumb Line, Stakes) Tombstone of Surveyor Nicostratus
Pompeii
Dioptra
(Theodolite)
Chorobates of Vitruvius to level
hydraulic gradients for aqueducts
Reject H2:
Vitruvius applies to pre-Roman temples as well.
Date Event Temple Faces
50 AD SPQR Public Lares W
1 AD SPQR Vespasian. Fortuna Augusta, W
80 BC SPQR (Sulla) annexes Pompeii
100 BC Isis NE
150 BC Hipparchus (Eclipse Prediction) Jupiter S
250 BC Socium of Rome ( 350-200 BC) Dionysus, Ceres
Venus (rebuilt c.70 BC)
W, SW
S
428 BC Samnites defeat Greeks Apollo (rebuilt c.150 BC)
450 BC Aesculapius NE
474 BC Greeks defeat Etruscans
c. 500 BC Port to Greeks & Phoenicians.
Etruscans defeat Oscans
Doric S
550 BC TPQ: Oscans found Pompeii
Accept H3:
Drainage Slope trumps Vitruvius: Gravity Pulls Water via Aqueduct
From Serino to Pompeii
Castellum Divisorium:
aqueduct terminus & start of the
water distribution at Pompeii http://www.romanaqueducts.info/aquasite/serino/
Pace, Pietrantonio, Acquedotti di Romao, 2010 p. 116,
Accept H3:
Pompeii’s Fountains & Urban Grid
Hodge, A. Trevor, Roman Aqueducts & Water Supply, Duckworth, London, 1992, p. 305
Castellum
Aquae
Accept H4:
Temples were oriented to the “equinox,
solstice and courses of the stars.”
Null-1: No major axis of a temple is oriented to the
Sun rise/set at the Equinox or Solstices.
Null-2: No major axis of a temple is oriented to the
Moon rise/set at the Lunar Standstills.
Null-3: No major axis of a temple is oriented to a
Star rise/set associated with myths of
the temple’s divinity or shared alignments
at other temples of the same divinity.
Astro-Archaeology Methodology 1. Preliminary GIS Survey (Google Earth)
- Orthorectify Google Earth Satellite Image with Architectural plan (Nappo 1998)
- True Azimuth
- Horizon Altitude
Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
- Temple Elevation
2. “Ground Truth” Survey of Temple Axis Theodolite/GPS Survey, 5-18 April 2013
- True Azimuth
- Horizon Altitude
3. Calculate Skyline Declinations Gerald S. Hawkins, Program STONEHENGE, Mindsteps to the Cosmos 1983, 328+
4. Confirm Astro-Alignment Photograph/Planetarium
Program STONEHENGE Inputs:
Pompeii
1. Date of Construction: 550 BC- AD 79
2. Latitude: N 40◦ 45’
3. Elevation Above Sea Level: 36 meters +
4. Azimuth, True: Varies by temple
[Magnetic Declination = 2.83◦ E, 5 April 2013] http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag-web/
5. Horizon-Skyline Altitude: Varies by temple
[Adjusted for Curvature of the Earth] Gerald S. Hawkins, Program STONEHENGE, Mindsteps to the Cosmos 1983, pp. 328-330.
http://www.difesa.suolo.regione.campania.it/content/view/39/80/
Pompeii
Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
Table 2. Pompeii Temple Major Axis by Proposed Astro-Target Horizon Declination
Temple Date Alt. Elev. Azimuth Declination (°)
(Regio.Insula.Casa) circa (º) (m) Proposed Astro-Target Qtr. (°) Target Horizon Row Δ
Aesculapius (Front) -450 3.50 23 α Boötes- Arcturus [0.2] HR at Equinox E 47.83 33.25 33.09 -0.16
(VIII.7.25) Sunset (23 Sep) & WS+60 Days (23 Feb)
Isis (Front) (VIII.7.28) -100 3.00 24 Midwinter Moon Rise MajSS ToH E 57.68 28.86 28.50 -0.36
Isis (Rear) -100 33.30 24 Equinox Sun Set ToH W 234.85 0.00 -0.30 -0.30
Dionysus (n/a) -250 -0.05 18 Equinox Sun Set LG W 271.00 0.00 0.34 0.34
Doric (VIII.7.31) -550 3.98 24 β Orionis- Rigel HR [0.3] SS (22 Jun) E 113.00 -14.50 -14.59 -0.09
Public Lares (VII.9.3) 50 3.60 34 5 Feb & 7 Nov X-Quarter Sun Sets LG W 241.80 -16.23 -16.50 -0.27
Vespasian (VII.9.2) 1 2.08 28 5 Feb & 7 Nov X-Quarter Sun Sets LG W 243.83 -16.23 -16.22 0.01
Fortuna Augusta (VII.4.1) 1 4.00 38 Winter Solstice Sun Set LG W 237.83 -23.68 -22.93 0.75
Ceres (n/a) -250 -0.38 20 Midsummer Moon Set MajSS LG W 231.53 -28.87 -28.18 0.69
Apollo (VII.7.32) -400 4.40 34 θ Scorpionis-Sargas WS HR [1.8] S 149.67 -37.12 -37.11 0.01
Venus (VIII.1.3) -250 4.50 38 θ Scorpionisθ Scorpionis-Sargas WS HR [1.8] WS HR [1.8]S 151.17 -37.72 -37.73 -0.01
Jupiter (VII.8.1) -150 4.46 25 θ Scorpionis-Sargas WS HR [1.8] S 151.75 -38.10 -38.03 0.07
HR= Heliacal Rise; LG=Last Gleam; MajSS=Major Stand Still; SS=Summer Solstice; ToH=Tangent on Horizon; WS=Winter Solstice
Latitude N 40º 45' n/a = not applicable, as it is outside the Pompeii Archaeological Area.
Findings
Doric Temple ca. 550 BC
Nappo 1998, 79
β Orionis (Rigel) Summer Solstice
Heliacal Rise
-14.50◦ dec, -550 BC, Mag. 0.34
Hawkins & Rosenthal 1967, p. 148
T. Doric
Horizon dec = -14.59◦
Target dec = -14.50◦
Δ = - 0.09º
Az True = 113.00◦
Alt. = +3.98◦
Elev. = 24m
Date = 550 BC
Punishment of Ixion
Doric Temple:
Landscape Orientation
Interpretation
Was Vesuvius’ summit originally on
the temple’s major axis? NO
Temple of
Dionysius ca. 250 BC
Equinox Sun Set
Last Gleam on Horizon (Sea)
0◦ dec, -250 Year
Oscan mosaic
T. Dionysus
Horizon dec = + 0.34◦
Target dec = 0.00◦
Δ = 0.34º
Az True = 271.0◦
Alt. = -0.05◦
Elev. = 18m
Date = 250 BC
Temple of
Ceres
Goddess of
Agriculture ca. 250 BC
Midsummer Major Stand Still
Moon Set
Last Gleam on Horizon (Sea)
-28.87◦ dec, -250 Year
T. Ceres
Horizon dec = -28.18◦
Target dec = -28.87
Δ = - 0.69º
Az True = 231.53◦
Alt. = -0.38◦
Elev. = 20m
Date = 250 BC
Ceres-Demeter http://www.suppressedhistories.net/secrethistory/ceres.jpg
Temple of Jupiter (Capitolium) 150 BC
Θ Scorpionis (Sargas)
Winter Solstice Heliacal Rise
(-38.1◦ dec) 150 BC,
Mag. 1.8 Hawkins & Rosenthal 1967, 163
T. Jupiter Θ Scorpionis (Sargas)
Winter Stolstice Heliacal Rise
Horizon dec = -38.03◦
Target dec = -38.10◦
Δ = 0.07º
Az True = 151.75◦
Alt. = +4.46◦
Elev. = 36m
Date = 150 BC
Orion & Skorpius
Skorpios (Scorpius) was a giant scorpion sent by the earth-goddess Gaia to slay the giant Orion when he threatened to kill all the beasts of the earth. The Scorpion stung Orion on the heel (marked by the star Rigel, β Orion) and killed him. These two opponents Orion and the Scorpion were placed amongst the stars as their namesake constellations, but are positioned on opposite sides of the sky, one sets as the other rises. The Scorpion rises as Orion starts to sink into the other side of the sky, and this was seen as Orion running away from the attacker, and still in fear of him.
"Scorpius, because of its position, is one of the two ‘gateways’ to the Milky Way, the other being the opposite constellation of Orion. The Scorpion men attacked Osiris in Egyptian legend, and the Scorpions sting killed Orion in Greek myth." [3].
http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/Scorpio.html
Orion & Skorpios
“Orion went away to Crete and spent his time
hunting with Artemis and Leto. [Because] he
threatened to kill every living thing,…Earth [Gaia]
sent up against him a scorpion of very great size
by which he was stung and so perished. After this
Zeus…put him among the stars…and the scorpion
as a memorial of him and what had occurred.”
Hesiod (ca. 700 BC), “The Astronomy” (H.G. Evelyn-White trans.)
Hesiod, New York: MacMillan, 1914, 71-72
Orion & Skorpios
Hesiod (ca. 700 BC), “The Astronomy, No. 4” (H.G. Evelyn-White trans.)
Hesiod, New York: MacMillan, 1914, 70-73
Temple of Jupiter:
Landscape Orientation
Interpretation
Was Vesuvius’ summit originally on
the temple’s major axis? YES
Temple of Apollo 400 BC (rebuilt 150 BC)
Nappo 1998, p. 108
Θ Scorpionis (Sargas)
Heliacal Rise Winter Solstice
(-37.12◦ decl) 400 BC, Mag. 1.8
Hawkins & Rosenthal 1967, p. 163
T. Apollo
Θ Scorpionis (Sargas)
Horizon dec = -37.11◦
Target dec = -37.12◦
Δ = - 0.01º Az True = 149.67◦
Alt. = +4.4◦
Elev. = 34m
Date = 400 BC
Temple of Apollo:
Landscape Orientation
Interpretation
Was Vesuvius’ summit originally on the
temple’s major axis? YES
Temple of Venus Physica ca. 250 BC (70 BC Rebuilt by Sulla)
“The cult of Venus had ancient origins
in Pompeii, although it originally
related to Venus Physica, a goddess
who ruled over life and death, and
therefore both a celestial deity and a
deity of the underworld.” Nappo 1998, 164 Venus Physica Pompeiana
VII.xvi, 17-22 Pompeii
House of Maius Castricius
Marble from
rebuilding by
Romans, 70 BC Looking South, Major Axis
Temple of Venus:
Astronomical Orientation
T. Venus
Θ Scorpius (Sargas) Heliacal Rise
Winter Solstice, 22 December 250 BC Horizon dec = -37.73◦
Target dec = -37.72◦
Δ = - 0.01º Az True = 151.17◦
Alt. = +4.5◦
Elev. = 38m
Date =250 BC
Hawkins & Rosenthal 1967, 149
Temple of Venus:
Landscape Interpretation
Was Vesuvius’ summit originally on the temple’s major axis? YES
Alternate Astro-Interpretation:
α Columbae (Phact) Heliacal Rise
Sir J. Norman Lockyer, The Dawn of Astronomy London: Cassell & Co: 1894, 305
Temple of Isis ca. 100 BC
Mid-Winter Major Stand Still
Full Moon Rise (+28.86◦ dec )
Disk Tangent on Horizon
Spring/Autumn
Equinox Sun Set (0◦ decl. )
Disk Tangent on Horizon
Sun & Moon
Discs
Midwinter Moon
Major SS Rise
Horizon dec = +28.5◦
Target dec = +28.8◦
Δ = - 0.3º
Az True = +57.68◦
Alt. = 3.0◦
Elev. = 24m
Date = 100 BC
Temple of Isis: East Wall = Artificial Horizon
Sir W. Hamilton 1776
Original
wall
height
North-East Wall:
Original Artificial Horizon
& 18th Century Addition
Piranesi, F, 1804. Antiquites de la Grande
Grece: Tome II. Paris: Piranesi and Le
Blanc. (plate 61).
Sir William Hamilton (1730-1803), “View of the
first discovery of the temple of Isis at
Pompeii,” Campi Phlegraei, 1776 (w/c on
paper) Plate 41, 99
Harpocrates Niche
Mid-Winter Major Stand
Still Full Moon Rise Interpretation
"Upon her [Isis'] brow stood the crescent moon-horns, garlanded with glittering heads of golden grain, and grace of royal dignity; and at her side the baying dog Anubis, dappled Apis, sacred Bubastis and the god [Harpokrates] who holds his finger to his lips for silence sake."
Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.691.
Initiates of the Isis worshipped a compassionate goddess who promised eventual salvation and a perpetual relationship throughout life and after death.
The Diaspora Cults. (1970) Ancient History XI, High Empire 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press
Isis:
Two Hellenistic Examples from Pompeii
Bacchus Niche
Temple of Isis
Bacchus pouring wine into
panther’s mouth
Spring/Autumn
Equinox Sun Set (0◦ decl. )
Disk Tangent on Horizon
T. Isis
Horizon dec = -0.3º
Target dec = 0.0º
Δ = -0.3º Az True = 234.85◦
Alt. = +33.3◦
Elev. = 24m
Date = 100 BC
Interpretation
Bacchus & Equinox
Living:Dead::Light:Dark He was also known as Bacchus (Greek: Βάκχος,
Bakkhos), the name adopted by the Romans and the frenzy he induces, bakkheia. His companion is a panther and his thyrsus is sometimes wound with ivy and dripping with honey . It is a beneficent wand but also a weapon, and can be used to destroy those who oppose his cult and the freedoms he represents. He is also called Eleutherios ("the liberator"), whose wine, music and ecstatic dance frees his followers from self-conscious fear and care, and subverts the oppressive restraints of the powerful. Those who partake of his mysteries are possessed and empowered by the god himself.[12] His cult is also a "cult of the souls"; his maenads feed the dead through blood-offerings, and he acts as a divine communicant between the living and the dead.[13]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus
Temple of
Aesculapius
Boötes -Arcturus
Heliacal Rise
Autmnal Equinox 450 BC
Mag. = -0.24
Horizon dec = +33.09◦
Target dec = +33.25◦
Δ = -0.16º Az True = +47.83◦
Alt. = 3.5◦
Elev. = 23m
Date = 450 BC
Hawkins & Rosenthal
1967, 158
Arcturus Heliacal Rise
23 Feb 700 BC Athens
Hesiod (ca. 700 BC), “The Astronomy, No. 4” (H.G. Evelyn-White trans.)
Hesiod, New York: MacMillan, 1914, 44-45
Orion & Sirius Meridian Transit
Arcturus Heliacal Rise
Autumnal Equinox ca. 700 BC, Athens
Hesiod (ca. 700 BC), “Works and Days, line 609+” (H.G. Evelyn-White trans.)
Hesiod, New York: MacMillan, 1914, 48-49
Orion & α Canis Major (Sirius) Meridian Transit
α Boötes (Arcturus) Heliacal Rise
Autumnal Equinox, 22 Sep 700 BC, Athens
“But when Orion and
Sirius are come into
mid-heaven, and
rosy-fingered Dawn
sees Arcturus, then
cut off all the grape
clusters, Perses, and
bring them home.”
-Hesiod, Works & Days
l. 609-611.
Orion & Sirius Meridian Transit
Arcturus Heliacal Rise
Winter Solstice +60 days, 23 Feb 700 BC, Athens
“When Zeus has finished
60 wintry days after the
solstice, then the star
Arcturus leaves the holy
stream of Ocean and first
shines brilliant at dusk.”
-Hesiod, Works & Days
l. 609-611.
Temple of Fortuna Augusta ca. 1 AD
Nappo 1998, 113
Temple is Rotated from Urban Grid
“The temple was built at the crossroads between Via del Foro and
Via di Nola, on a site previously occupied by shops and probably
by a house, as suggested by some floors decorated with opus
signum, found behind and beneath the podium on the south side.”
Interpretation Sol Invictus enters the Temple of
Fortuna Augusta at Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice
Sun Set, Last Gleam
Horizon dec = -22.93◦
Target dec = -23.68◦
Δ = + 0.75º
Az True = 237.83◦ Alt. = +4.0◦
Elev. = 38m
Date = 1 AD
Temple of Vespasian (reign AD 71-79)
Originally of C. Augustus (reign 27 BC-AD 14 )
ca. AD 1 7 November/5 February Cross-Quarter Day Sun Set
(average -16.23 ◦ dec) Looking West
Augustus Vespasian
Temple of Vespasian ca. AD 1, E-W
Winter X-Quarter
Sun Set, Last Gleam
Horizon dec = -16.22◦
Target dec = -16.23◦
Δ = +0.01º
Az True = 243.83◦
Alt. = +2.08◦
Elev. = 28m
Date = 1 AD
Sanctuary of the Public Lares
ca. AD 1, E –W
7 November/5 February Winter Cross-Quarter Day Sun Set
(average -16.23 ◦ decl) Looking West
Sanctuary of the Public Lares ca. AD 50, E –W
Winter X-Quarter
Sun Set, Last Gleam
Horizon dec = -16.50◦
Target dec = -16.23◦
Δ = - 0.27º Az True = 241.80◦
Alt. = +3.6◦
Elev. = 34m
Date = 1 AD
Conclusions
1. The previously unrecognized temple astro-orientations at Pompeii are consistent with Graeco-Roman culture and demonstrate greater explanatory power than either the Random or Urban Grid/Landscape hypotheses.
2. Temples with Astro- orientation linked with Graeco-Roman literature include: Doric, Dionysus, Ceres, Isis, Aesculapius, Venus, Apollo, Jupiter, and *Fortuna Augusta (*also conforms to Vitruvius’ Western Quarter Principle).
3. Temples with Landscape orientation (i.e., towards Vesuvius) include: Venus, Apollo, and Jupiter.
4. Temples with Astro-orientation, Vitruvius’ Western Quarter Principle, and Urban Grid orientation include: Vespasian, and Public Lares.
5. Additional comparative analysis could determine the frequency and geographical distribution of the observed temple astro-orientation patterns.
6. GIS & Satellite Imaging are useful for preliminary Astro-Archaeology survey.
References-1
Allen, Richard H. (1899) Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, Dover, New York, nd.
Boutsikas, E. (2011) Temples, Stars, and Ritual Landscapes: The Potential for Archaeoastronomy in Ancient Greece. American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 115, 1: 55-67.
(2009) Placing Greek Temples: An Archaeoastronomical Study of the Orientation of Ancient Greek Religious Structures. Archaeoastronomy: The Journal of Astronomy in Culture, vol. 21, 4–16.
Cumont, Franz V. M, Astrology and Religion Among the Greeks and Romans, Dover,
New York, 1912 (reprinted 1960).
Hannah, Robert and Giulio Magli, “The Role of the Sun in the Pantheon’s Design and
Meaning,” Numen 58(4), 486-513, 2011.
Hawkins, Gerald S. Mindsteps to the Cosmos, Harper & Row, New York, 1983.
“Astro-Archaeology-The Unwritten Evidence,” Vistas in Astronomy 10:45-88, 1968.
Hawkins, G.S. & S.K. Rosenthal, 5,000 & 10,000-Year Star Catalogs, Washington: Smithsonian 1967.
Hodge, A. Trevor, Roman Aqueducts & Water Supply, Duckworth, London, 1992.
References-2
Jones, Alexander, “The Place of Astronomy in Roman Egypt,” The Sciences in Greco-Roman
Society (T.D. Barnes, ed.) Academic Printing and Publishing, Edmonton, 46-7, 1994.
Nappo, Salvatore C. , Pompeii: A Guide to the Ancient City, Vercelli, Italy: White Star, 1998.
Nell, Erin A. Greece's Debt to Egypt: the transmission of astronomical knowledge
applied to architectural alignments, PhD. Dissertation, University of Leicester, 2013.
North, J.D., “Astronomical Symbolism in the Mithraic Religion,” Centaurus: International
Magazine of the History of Mathematics, Science and Technology, 33:115-148, 1990.
Oudet, J.F., “Le Panthéon de Rome à la lumière de l’equinoxe”, in Readings in
Archaeoastronomy, (S. Iwaniszewski, ed.) 25–52. Warsaw: State Archaeological Museum, 1992.
Pace, Pietrantonio. Acquedotti di Roma e il De Aquaeductu di Frontino, 2010.
Vitruvius Pollio, Marcus, The Ten Books of Architecture (De Architectura Libri Decem)
(M.H. Morgan, trans. Harvard University Press, 1914.
Acknowledgements
José Maria Luzón, Professor, Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Vincenzo G. Sabini, Assistente Tecnico Scientifico, Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei
Il Personale dell’ Istituto Vesuviano, Castellemmare di Stabia
Istituto Vesuviano Il Personale