21 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Terracotta Figurines of the ancient cult of the goddess Cybele discovered in Pompeii Domus

Archaeologists unearthed 13 terracotta figurines during recent excavations in the Domus adjacent to the “House of Leda and the Swan” along Via del Vesuvio in Pompeii.

The 13 clay figurines, approximately 15 centimeters high, were associated with the cult of the goddess Cybele. According to archaeologists, the figurines may be associated with Kybele and Attis, telling the story of the mother goddess’s tragic love for a mortal.

Attis was a handsome young man born in Phrygia. Cybele, also known as Kybele, was a powerful goddess associated with fertility, abundance, and nature. Attis became involved in a forbidden relationship with one of Cybele’s priestesses, which began to undermine his devotion to Cybele.

Cybele was furious at Attis’ betrayal, which drove her to a state of madness. In a fit of frenzy, Attis castrated himself in a moment of extreme anguish and eventually died. After his death, he was transformed into a pine tree.

Overwhelmed by grief, Cybele sought permission from Zeus to grant Attis immortality. Attis became revered as a symbol associated with Cybele and was celebrated as a representation of life after death, symbolizing the cycle of nature, loss, and rebirth.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



Some of the figurines unearthed at Pompeii. Others depicted the head of a cockerel, an almond, a walnut and a pine cone. Photo: Pompeiisites

The miniature clay sculptures were found upright on a horizontal plane, probably on a shelf that once hung inside the home. Some statues were human figures, while others included a chicken head and a pine cone.

The statues found bear a striking resemblance to figures often found in Christmas nativity scenes.

‘Although the Christmas creche was obviously not a tradition in the pagan Roman city, experts believe the statues were arranged in a way that suggests they were part of an ancient ritual, ‘ archaeologists shared in the announcement.

The statues provide a glimpse at religious practices more than 2,000 years ago and ‘could potentially provide a new understanding of the influences and traditions that shaped early representations of nativity scenes,’ BNN reports.

Glass-pinecone. Photo: Pompeii archaeological park
Glass-pinecone. Photo: Pompeii Archaeological Park

The sculptures were discovered near the House of Leda and the Swan, which gets its name from a sensual fresco depicting the Greek myth discovered in one of its rooms in 2019 and is currently undergoing excavation and restoration work. The Domus is believed to have belonged to a rich merchant who wanted to reflect his high level of culture by adorning his home with myth-inspired frescoes.

Pompeii, an ancient Roman city nestled near present-day Naples, Italy, gained monumental significance due to the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. This eruption engulfed the city in volcanic ash and preserved its remains for centuries, offering a poignant snapshot of life in antiquity.

Today, visitors wander through remarkably preserved streets, houses, temples, and theaters, providing a vivid glimpse into the daily routines and architectural grandeur of the Roman era. Pompeii’s compelling narrative of destruction and preservation continues to captivate global interest, serving as an immersive testament to both ancient history and natural calamity.

Pompeiisites

Cover Photo: Pompeiisites

Related Articles

A ‘Talismanic Grave Tablet’ Believed to Protect From Evil Found in Silifke Castle

3 September 2024

3 September 2024

During excavations in the Silifke castle located on lies on a hill in the town with the same name in...

Scientists Find Aztec ‘Death Whistles’ do Weird Things to the Listeners’ Brains

18 November 2024

18 November 2024

New research reveals that one of the Aztecs’ most chilling artefacts, clay death whistles, which resemble a human skull and...

1,800 years old Sewer system found in ancient city of Mastaura

17 May 2022

17 May 2022

Archaeologists found an 1800-year-old sewer system during excavations in the ancient city of Mastaura, in the Nazilli district of AydÄąn...

Roman Bath and Magnificent Mosaics Used as Stables by the Villagers For Many Years

3 January 2025

3 January 2025

Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Herakleia in Muğla’s Milas district in western TĂźrkiye unearthed a striking discovery from...

Archaeologists discover bones of a woman who lived 14,000 years ago at a site in The Iberian Peninsula

13 August 2021

13 August 2021

Archaeologists have discovered the bones of a lady who lived 14,000 years ago, the earliest traces of a modern burial...

Floor Mosaic of the Early Byzantine Period Unearthed in St Constantine and Helena Monastery Church in Ordu

12 August 2024

12 August 2024

Republic of TĂźrkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported that an in-situ floor mosaic was found at the St Constantine...

Six New Aramaic Inscriptions Unearthed at Ancient City of Zernaki Tepe in Eastern TĂźrkiye

15 October 2025

15 October 2025

Archaeologists have discovered six new Aramaic inscriptions at Zernaki Tepe, a 3,000-year-old ancient city in eastern Türkiye’s Van Province. The...

New Study shows Early Native Americans in Alaska were freshwater fishermen 13,000 years ago

15 June 2023

15 June 2023

A team led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers has discovered the earliest known evidence that Native Americans living...

Bronze Age family systems deciphered: Paleogeneticists analyze 3,800-year-old extended family

31 August 2023

31 August 2023

A Bronze Age family living 3,800 years ago in the Southern Urals may have taken a flexible approach to marriage,...

Archaeologists unearthed a pot of copper coins in first major discovery at Mohenjo Daro in Pakistan, in 93 years

18 November 2023

18 November 2023

A pot full of copper coins was discovered from a stupa (a dome-shaped building erected as a Buddhist shrine) at...

Hidden Roman Passage Unearthed Beneath Split: A Secret Gateway into Diocletian’s Palace Revealed

23 June 2025

23 June 2025

A groundbreaking discovery beneath Hrvojeva Street, near Diocletian’s Palace, is reshaping our understanding of Roman life and architecture in the...

Researchers discovered clay tablets with ancient cuneiform writing, a game board, and large structural remains in Kurd Qaburstan

16 January 2025

16 January 2025

Tiffany Earley-Spadoni, associate professor of history at the University of Central Florida (UCF), and a researchers team have made important...

The Ephesus Massacre: 80,000 Romans Slaughtered in a Single Night of Blood and Betrayal

29 May 2025

29 May 2025

The Ephesus Massacre saw 80,000 or more Romans killed overnight during the Asiatic Vespers — one of the deadliest uprisings...

The Largest Circular Tomb of the Ancient World Is Opening

16 February 2021

16 February 2021

The restoration of Augustus’ colossal tomb, which is expected to be opened in 2014, has been completed. The Augustus mausoleum...

The Sedgeford Anglo-Saxon malting complex may be the largest ever discovered in the UK

23 July 2023

23 July 2023

As archaeological excavations resume on a hill in Sedgeford, near Hunstanton, a seaside town in Norfolk, England, now more evidence...