At Civitella, south of the town of Campochiaro, stood an important Samnite sanctuary dedicated to Hercules. Located about 800 meters above sea level, it dominated the plain crossed by the ancient road that connected Bovianum to Saepinum. This site can be identified with Herculis Rani reported in the Tabula Peutingeriana, although the epithet “Rani” remains of uncertain interpretation.
Founded in the 3rd century B.C., the shrine lost relevance after the Social War (91-88 B.C.), with the decline of the official Samnite cult and the absorption of the area by the Roman administration. The rich ritual activities and public investments moved to nearby municipalities, such as Bovianum, causing the abandonment of the site, which experienced only a modest revival between the 1st and 4th centuries CE, without significant building interventions.
The sacred area, triangular in shape, was enclosed by massive polygonal walls, with monumental entrances and structures to protect access from the mountain. The sanctuary was organized on two terraces, divided by a two-aisled building, probably a portico. On the upper shelf stood the main temple, oriented east-southeast, with a plinth measuring 15.30×21.30 meters and a front steps. The building was of Ionic order, prostyle and possibly tetrastyle, ornamented with terracotta decorations.
Of extraordinary interest are the findings related to the foundation rites: a ritual ash deposit with coins from the 2nd century B.C. emerged in the cella, while a well for votive offerings was discovered in the pronaos. Both testify to the importance of Samnite sacred practices.
Later excavations also revealed traces of earlier buildings, votive materials and fragments of Hercules figurines, as well as inscriptions in the Oscan language. Prominent among these is a dedication probably referable to Ovio Staio, a prominent figure of the time.
The Sanctuary of Campochiaro today represents a valuable testimony to Samnite religiosity and architecture, offering an extraordinary insight into the relationship between cult, territory and society in ancient Italy.