Temple K.
Temple K.

Located halfway up the hill of S. Giovanni, in front of the Baths of Convento Vecchio, is Temple K. Temple K was first discovered in 1961 by Gennaro Pesce.

Passing through a staircase made of basalt which starts at the paved road (but is maintained only for a short distance), you reach a monumental complex of the Roman period that includes a portico structure of the Imperial age and a small temple built with square blocks of sandstone, marked with the letter K by its discoverer. This building has a rectangular shape with two pillars in the front and is accessible by climbing five steps.

Altar of the temple.
Altar of the temple.

At the top of the steps stands a Punic type altar with a cavetto cornice (Egyptian type molding). In front of the temple, attributed to the late Republic period (2nd century BC), stands a re-used block with Punic inscription. Another Punic inscription is engraved on a sandstone block located in the Roman portico adjacent to the temple. The presence of these Punic inscriptions suggests that a phase of the temple complex may have preceded the Republic period, a so-called temple of inscriptions.