Statues Likened to 'Nativity Scene' That Were Used For Cultic Worship Discovered in Pompeii

Archaeologists were able to unearth some statues likened to the Nativity scene. These were discovered in the prehistoric ruins of Pompeii.

Nativity Scene-Like Statues Found

Roughly 13 figurines were discovered in a place that used to be a home. Though the pieces resemble the famous Christian Nativity scene, they were actually used in a prehistoric cultic ritual.

The statues are roughly five inches in height and were discovered upright over a horizontal plane. This could have been a shelf that was hung inside the structure. They were discovered in a domus' room close to the house of Leda and the Swan. This is where restoration and excavation work continue.

Some of the statues had human figures, while other artifacts included a pine cone and a chicken head.

Used For Cultic Worship

The researchers were able to determine that the statues were used to pay homage to the cultic goddess Cybele, who was known to be the mother of the deities, as well as Attis, a mortal that Cybele ended up falling in love with. The scene tells the tragic love story shared by the two.

The cult of Cybele was brought to Rome in B.C. 200. The cult was spread by prehistoric Romans throughout Italy. It eventually reached Pompeii during the 6th century.

On the other hand, Attis' figure was introduced to Roman society towards the middle of the first century.

With this timeline, it is suggested that the artifacts date back over 2,000 years.

The archaeologists share that though the Nativity scene was clearly not a tradition followed in Pompeii, experts think that the artifacts were arranged in a manner that suggests that they served a purpose in a prehistoric ritual.

The artifacts offer a glimpse into religious practices that date back over 2,000 years. These could even potentially offer a new understanding regarding the traditions and influences that shaped the nativity scene's early representations.

City of Pompeii

Pompeii used to be a buzzling city housing 15,000 residents around two thousand years ago. This was before Mount Vesuvius erupted and destroyed the area in 79 A.D.

This massive eruption is believed to have killed 16,000 individuals in Pompeii and the towns surrounding it. Because of this, it is considered one of history's most destructive volcanic eruptions.

However, artifacts, buildings, roads, and even people ended up preserved beneath ash layers. Archaeologists have been unraveling the various mysteries of the prehistoric city ever since it was found in the late 1600s.

Check out more news and information on Archaeology in Science Times.